The US’s largest Latino civil rights and advocacy organisation UnidosUS has hired Fernando Laguarda as general counsel, a newly created position.
Laguarda joins from his own legal practice, having previously been deputy GC at US federal agency GSA. He brings more than three decades of experience across government, non-profit, private practice and academia. As GC and vice president of legal and compliance services he will lead UnidosUS’s legal function and provide support on governance, regulation, advocacy and operational matters. He will also advise on tax-exempt organisation law, federal grants, fundraising compliance, lobbying and risk management.
Washington DC-based UnidosUS advocates for the economic and social progress for Latinos in the US, with a network of almost 300 community-based organisations nationwide and in Puerto Rico.
Sonia Pérez, chief operating officer at UnidosUS, said: “Fernando brings a unique combination of legal expertise, public service leadership and deep commitment to mission-driven work. At a time when civil rights organisations are navigating heightened legal, regulatory and political complexity, his experience will help ensure that UnidosUS continues to operate with integrity, resilience and impact.”
Laguarda set up his own legal practice in January last year to provide legal and strategic counsel to mission-driven enterprises. He was previously deputy GC at GSA and GC at volunteering organisation AmeriCorps.
Earlier in his career he was of counsel and a partner at Harris Wiltshire & Grannis, and VP for external affairs and policy counsellor at Time Warner Cable. He started his career at Mintz Levin, becoming a partner in 2002 until his departure in 2008.
Writing on LinkedIn, he said: “At this moment of heightened legal and regulatory complexity for civil rights organisations, I am grateful for the opportunity to advance this mission as part of the UnidosUS leadership team.”
Back in March, US civil rights group the NAACP hired former Department of Justice lawyer Kristen Clarke as GC, replacing Janette McCarthy Wallace, who moved to a special counsel role. The NAACP promotes civil rights and social justice for Black Americans.
Meanwhile in November 2024, the US federal workers’ union AFGE appointed Rushab Sanghvi as GC on a permanent basis, replacing David Borer who had retired. The AFGE defends the rights of 800,000 federal and Washington DC government employees.
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