CHAITRA GOWDA

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Baker Donelson

Chaitra Gowda, a shareholder at Baker Donelson’s Baltimore office, has established herself as a leader within both the legal industry and the Baltimore business community through her mentorship initiatives and community involvement.

As one of Baker Donelson’s supervising shareholders in the Labor and Employment practice group, Gowda has helped expand the practice from two lawyers to nine lawyers in just a few years, according to Jennifer Curry, office managing shareholder.

“She is a tireless worker and advocate, always going the extra mile for her clients and colleagues,” Curry said.

Gowda joined Baker Donelson in 2022 as an associate from a smaller firm and was elevated to shareholder just two years later. She practices general business litigation with a focus on labor and employment law.

Her leadership roles include serving on the firm’s Associate Advisory Board and as the Baltimore office liaison for the Labor and Employment practice group. Gowda was selected for the firm’s Baker LEAD initiative, which provides individualized leadership development coaching, and for the Trusted Advisor leadership program for shareholders identified as potential future firm leaders.

Gowda has been actively involved in mentoring initiatives, particularly focused on supporting women of color in the legal profession. She mentors summer associates, lateral associates and students at Cristo Rey Jesuit High School, where she organized a mock trial day in December 2023 to expose students to legal career opportunities.

In 2023, Gowda was selected as a GIVE Fellow with Business Volunteers Maryland, volunteering over 100 hours in nine months. Through this program, she worked with Baltimore’s largest employers to assist small nonprofit organizations with marketing and platform development.

“That fellowship has been one of the most rewarding experiences of my career, allowing me to give back to the Baltimore community,” Gowda said.