Praveen Fernandes, Director of Federal Affairs & Diversity Initiatives

Praveen joined JAS in March of 2012. He comes from the American Constitution Society for Law & Policy (ACS), where he worked for six years, most recently as Director of Programs for National Security, Technology, Labor, and the Environment. Before working at ACS, Praveen counseled clients at Patton Boggs LLP and Ropes & Gray LLP on regulatory, legislative, and public policy matters, with a focus on health care and Food and Drug Administration issues. Praveen also served as a lobbyist and legislative lawyer for the Human Rights Campaign, where he worked on judicial nominations, relationship recognition, appropriations, HIV/AIDS, and other LGBT equality issues. He is a graduate of the University of North Carolina (Chapel Hill) School of Law, has a master’s degree in Public Health from the University of North Carolina School of Public Health and holds a B.A. in biomedical ethics from Brown University. The National LGBT Bar Association named Praveen to its 2010 “Top 40 under 40” list, which recognizes LGBT lawyers under the age of 40 who have distinguished themselves through their work for LGBT equality.