Troutman Pepper Locke’s Sarah Rust Pylant Selected as 2025 LCLD Fellow; Chelsea Merritt, Jack Robinson, Moses Tincher, and Nathalie Vega Named to Pathfinder ‎Program

ATLANTA, CHARLOTTE, NEW YORK, PROVIDENCE, RICHMOND – Troutman Pepper Locke’s Sarah Rust Pylant was selected as a member of the 2025 Fellows Program for the Leadership Council on Legal Diversity (LCLD). Additionally, Chelsea Merritt, Jack Robinson, Moses Tincher, and Nathalie Vega have been named to LCLD’s Pathfinder Program. Both programs aim to identify, train, and advance the next generation of leaders in the legal profession.

According to LCLD, its landmark Fellows Program, established in 2011, is one of its most important initiatives. As a Fellow, Pylant will participate in conferences, in-person training, and projects with LCLD’s top leaders that aim to further leadership and relationship skills among lawyers who are committed to creating a more diverse and inclusive legal profession.

Pylant serves as counsel in Troutman Pepper Locke’s Energy Transactional Practice Group. She is an experienced transactional attorney regarded for her collaborative, practical approach to mergers and acquisitions, corporate governance matters, and other complex workstreams inherent in such transactions and relationships. While she has advised clients in transactions across a number of industries, Pylant has a particular focus on the energy sector and renewable energy projects, representing independent power producers, utilities, and developers.

The Pathfinder Program, now in its ninth year, targets high-performing associates. Pathfinders receive training in critical career development strategies, including leadership and building professional networks.

Merritt is an associate in Troutman Pepper Locke’s Business Litigation Practice Group and focuses her practice on representing both plaintiffs and defendants in a wide variety of complex civil litigation matters, including land use disputes, contract disputes, and class actions. Dedicated to giving back, she is a member of the firm’s Pro Bono Ambassador program and regularly represents clients in pro bono matters.

Robinson is an associate in the firm’s Business Litigation Practice Group assisting clients in navigating complex business litigation and dispute resolution, including commercial contract disputes, class actions, financial services litigation, and tort liability. He brings a comprehensive approach, including nuanced research, substantive motion practice, managing discovery, and taking depositions, and he has served as second chair in bench trials.

Tincher is an associate in Troutman Pepper Locke’s Labor and Employment Practice Group, where he handles complex litigation and counseling across various employment matters. In addition to his practice, he is actively involved in several firm groups and committees, including the Appellate and Supreme Court Group, Pro Bono Ambassador program, Generative AI Task Force, and Corporate Espionage Response Team.

Vega is an associate in the firm’s Consumer Financial Services Practice Group and focuses her practice on financial services litigation, representing clients across many complex legal matters. She also brings experience in contracts, labor and employment, property rights, and higher education. Committed to community service, Vega serves as vice chair of Reach Out and Read Rhode Island’s board of directors and is a member of the firm’s Hispanic Affinity Steering Committee.

Diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) are among Troutman Pepper Locke’s core values and are fundamental to the firm’s culture. The firm has partnered with LCLD since the organization was founded in 2009 and most recently was recognized as an LCLD Top Performer and Compass Award Winner for being among the top 20 percent of organizations based on participation in LCLD programs and activities.

Troutman Pepper Locke

Troutman Pepper Locke helps clients solve complex legal challenges and achieve their business goals in an ever-changing global economy. With more than 1,600 attorneys in 30+ offices, the firm serves clients in all major industry sectors, with particular depth in energy, financial services, health care and life sciences, insurance and reinsurance, private equity, and real estate. Learn more at troutman.com.