Christopher “Edwin” Hopkins-Gillispie is an attorney specializing in labor and employment law and a dedicated member of the National LGBT Bar Association. Edwin’s first introduction to the LGBTQ+ Bar came in 2012 when he attended the Annual Conference and Career Fair, Lavender Law®, as a recruiter on behalf of his former law firm, Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP. Since then, he has benefited greatly from the networking opportunities the association provides, connecting with thought leaders and advocates in the LGBTQ+ legal community.
Currently, Edwin serves as the Senior Director of HR Services, Legal & Compliance at Lidl US, where he has been employed since 2016. In this role, he oversees Lidl’s HR Services, Employment Law, Benefits & Wellness, HR Compliance, Insurance, Risk & Workers Compensation functions. Prior to Lidl, Edwin worked as a Labor & Employment attorney at Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP, focusing on counseling clients Title VII and other employment law compliance, and litigating matters involving discrimination, harassment, and retaliation.
Edwin has long been committed to promoting diversity within the legal profession and beyond. Since earning his JD from Indiana University’s Maurer School of Law in 2011, he has volunteered his time speaking on alumni panels and mentoring students in making education and career choices. He also dedicates himself to a range of LGBTQ+, African-American, and other volunteer organizations in the DC area and beyond. He currently serves as a board member for Caravanserai Project a non-profit with a focus on women and minority entrepreneurs; Queer Philanthropy Circle (QPC) an affinity giving circle at Indiana University; and he serves as a co-chair of the LGBTQ+ affinity group for the Association of Corporate Counsel (ACC) National Capital Region.