Silicon Valley – JAMS, the largest private provider of alternative dispute resolution (ADR) services worldwide, is pleased to announce that Melissa Lelaind, vice president of operations at JAMS, has been selected by the Silicon Valley Business Journal for inclusion in its “Women of Influence” class.
Presented annually, the program honors women in Silicon Valley for their influence in their industries as well as their communities. A reception to honor this year’s class will take place on June 29 at the Signia by Hilton in downtown San Jose.
“Ms. Lelaind is an outstanding member of our team who continues to demonstrate exceptional leadership in working with JAMS panelists; advancing our efforts in diversity, equity and inclusion; and building strong relationships with numerous California Bar associations,” said Gina Miller, JAMS senior vice president of operations. “We are thrilled to see her recognized for her work and for her influence across the Silicon Valley community.”
Ms. Lelaind has spent the past 14 years with JAMS, starting as a business manager, and now serves as vice president of operations in the Silicon Valley Bay Area. Through her work, she has made significant contributions to advance JAMS’ diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives. She serves as Co-Chair of Asian Pacific Americans on JAMS’ DEI Advisory Group and the Chair of the Diversity Outreach Committee. She is also involved in recruitment and has aided in increasing panel diversity in markets across the United States.
She was nominated for this award by Hon. Catherine A. Gallagher (Ret)., a JAMS panelist who has worked closely with Ms. Lelaind over the years.
“Ms. Lelaind has unmatched people skills and serves as a bridge between judges, attorneys, executives, staff, clients and members of the broader community,” said Judge Gallagher. “She has always gone above and beyond at JAMS and has excelled in all of her roles, by bringing people together and raising others up and that is what makes her an ideal candidate for recognition as a Silicon Valley Business Journal Woman of Influence.”
Before joining JAMS, Ms. Lelaind worked in various roles in the legal profession. She spent nine years in the office of Magistrate Judge Edward Infante and served as a litigation assistant at DLA Piper. She was also a board member for San Jose Jazz and Legal Access Alameda.
The full list of this year’s honorees can be found here.
About JAMS – Local Solutions. Global Reach.
Founded in 1979, JAMS is the largest private provider of alternative dispute resolution services worldwide. JAMS successfully resolves and manages business and legal disputes by providing efficient, cost-effective and impartial ways to overcome barriers at any stage of conflict. JAMS offers customized in-person, virtual and hybrid resolution services locally and globally through a combination of industry-specific experience, first-class client service, the latest technology and highly trained mediators and arbitrators.
With a roster of over 400 neutrals and 30 locations, JAMS resolves thousands of the world’s important cases every year. JAMS neutrals are adept at managing the resolution process whether they are conducting in-person, virtual or hybrid hearings.
More information is available at www.jamsadr.com, and you can connect with us on Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook and our JAMS ADR blog. To learn about diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives at JAMS, visit www.jamsadr.com/diversity/.