WASHINGTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dentons, the global law firm, announced today that John R. Fernandez, partner and the Firm's US chief innovation officer, has been appointed to the governing council of the American Bar Association (ABA) Center for Innovation. The 14-member governing council, in conjunction with its advisory council, direct the activities of the ABA Center for Innovation. Fernandez was appointed by ABA President Hilarie Bass to a one-year term.
Fernandez is also the global chair of Nextlaw Labs, an autonomous legal technology business accelerator wholly owned by Dentons. Nextlaw Labs works closely with the Firm's lawyers, professionals and clients to identify investment and co-development opportunities for new technologies that will transform the legal industry to deliver greater client value.
Prior to joining Dentons, Fernandez was Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Economic Development under President Obama. In that role, he transformed the Economic Development Administration into a 21st Century organization and launched the Office of Innovation and Entrepreneurship, the "i6 Challenge" and the "Jobs and Innovation Accelerator Challenge" to support innovative, high-growth strategies and entrepreneurship. John was one of the chief architects of President Obama's regional innovation strategies.
Fernandez also previously served as Mayor of Bloomington, Ind., where he worked with the private sector to develop a vibrant business climate that fostered more than $243 million in private investments and creating more than 3,700 jobs. He also developed an aggressive downtown revitalization plan resulting in more than $100 million in new investments.
Launched in 2016 at the recommendation of the ABA Commission on the Future of Legal Services, the Center for Innovation is creating more accessible, efficient, and effective legal services in the United States and around the globe.
About Dentons
Dentons is the world's largest law firm, delivering quality and value to clients around the globe. Dentons is a leader on the Acritas Global Elite Brand Index, a BTI Client Service 30 Award winner and recognized by prominent business and legal publications for its innovations in client service, including founding Nextlaw Labs and the Nextlaw Global Referral Network. Dentons' polycentric approach and world-class talent challenge the status quo to advance client interests in the communities in which we live and work. www.dentons.com
