Partner Lauren Zimmerman has been named to the National LGBTQ+ Bar Association’s 2024 list of the 40 Best LGBTQ+ Lawyers Under 40. The selective national list recognizes LGBTQ+ legal professionals who have distinguished themselves in their field and have demonstrated a profound commitment to LGBTQ+ equality.
Lauren, a talented litigator and leader in the LGBTQ+ community, was chosen for this distinction largely because of her record of advocating for equity and justice across her commercial practice, her public interest and pro bono work, and her volunteerism and community activism. She is currently litigating a First Amendment case involving the removal and restriction in multiple Florida school districts of “And Tango Makes Three,” a widely lauded children’s book that conveys that same-sex relationships and families with same-sex parents exist; that they can be happy, healthy, and loving; and that same-sex parents can adopt and raise healthy children. She is also spreading awareness about the changing political and legal landscape of anti-LGBTQ+ book censorship in the U.S., including at the Human Rights Campaign’s annual Women Lead Conference this past January. Through her trailblazing work on Tango, Lauren is at the forefront of the national debate and litigation strategy on free speech, censorship, education, and the visibility of LGBTQ+ individuals and families.
In addition to her legal work, Lauren is committed to advancing LGBTQ+ rights and connectivity through volunteerism. Last year, Lauren, along with three queer women, founded a social and professional networking group centering LGBTQ+ women and gender diverse people living and working in New York City. The group has over 75 members and meets on a monthly basis. Lauren is also an active member of the Human Rights Campaign Federal Club Council, Out Leadership, and the National LGBTQ+ Bar Association.
Lauren has a long-standing dedication to organizations that provide direct legal services. In January, she joined the board of Access Justice Brooklyn, a non-profit organization that offers free legal advice and representation to people with low incomes, especially in marginalized communities. Before joining Selendy Gay, she was a public defender at Brooklyn Defender Services.
From 2016 to 2018, Lauren served as a judicial law clerk for the Hon. Ursula Ungaro in the Southern District of Florida.
