Lambda Legal Announces Hire of Two Staff Attorneys to National Headquarters

(New York, October 17, 2007) — Lambda Legal announces the hire of two new attorneys, Flor Bermudez and Tom Ude, to its national headquarters in New York.

"Flor Bermudez and Tom Ude both have impressive legal experience and a commitment to furthering civil rights. We are excited to welcome them to Lambda Legal," said Jon W. Davidson, Legal Director of Lambda Legal. "We look forward to their individual talents and experiences helping advance Lambda Legal's work in the future."

Bermudez joins Lambda Legal as the new Youth in Out-of-Home Care Attorney, bringing with her an extensive and diverse background. Before coming to Lambda Legal, Bermudez spent four years at Esperanza del Barrio as the founding executive director and staff attorney. Her work there focused on criminal defense representation of Latina immigrant street vendors, general law practice, community organizing, youth development and legal/political education. Prior to law school, Bermudez actively participated in several LGBT organizations including LLEGO, Colectivo Mexicano, Mano a Mano and the Audre Lorde Project. Bermudez received a bachelor's degree in Labor Studies and also in Chemistry from Rutgers University. She later went on to its law school, where she was an editor for the Rutgers Law Review. After receiving her law degree in 2000, Bermudez clerked for New Jersey Supreme Court Justice Gary Stein and is licensed to practice law in both New York and New Jersey.

"I am honored to join Lambda Legal and I look forward to contributing my skills to the very distinguished and highly accomplished legal team," said Flor Bermudez, Lambda Legal's Youth in Out-of-Home Care Attorney. "I am eager to focus my efforts to challenge discriminatory practices and reforming the public policies that affect primarily youth of color within child welfare, juvenile justice and systems of care for homeless youth."

Ude joins Lambda Legal as Senior Staff Attorney and brings more than 17 years of trial and appellate experience. Prior to joining Lambda Legal, Ude was corporation counsel to the city of New Haven, Connecticut, a position he held for 10 years. Ude also worked as a trial attorney for more than a decade handling cases at the trial and appellate levels in the state and federal courts, including several cases before the Connecticut Supreme Court. Ude is on the board of directors of Love Makes a Family, Connecticut's marriage equality organization, and the Connecticut Women's Education and Legal Fund. Ude graduated cum laude in 1989 from the University of Michigan Law School and clerked for Senior U.S. District Court Judge T. Emmet Clarie in the District of Connecticut. He received his bachelor's degree in political science from the University of Connecticut, graduating Phi Beta Kappa and summa cum laude.

"I am honored and excited to join the Lambda Legal team on the front lines of the battle for civil rights," said Tom Ude, Senior Staff Attorney at Lambda Legal.

###

Lisa Hardaway: 212-809-8585 ext: 266; E: lhardaway@lambdalegal.org

Lambda Legal is a national organization committed to achieving full recognition of the civil rights of lesbians, gay men, bisexuals, transgender people and those with HIV through impact litigation, education and public policy work.