Chain | Cohn | Clark attorney, marketing director named two of Bakersfield’s “20 Under 40 People to Watch”

July 1, 2015 | Article by Chain | Cohn | Clark staff | At the Firm , Awards & Recognition , Community Service , News & Media

Chain | Cohn | Clark attorney, marketing director named two of Bakersfield’s “20 Under 40 People to Watch”

* Editor’s Note: Neil Gehlawat is no longer an attorney with Chain | Cohn | Clark *

Chain | Cohn | Clark‘ associate attorney Neil Gehlawat and director of marketing and public relations Jorge Barrientos have been chosen for the 2015 “20 Under 40 People to Watch” in Bakersfield by Bakersfield Life Magazine.

Gehlawat, 27, and Barrientos, 31, were highlighted in the July 2015 issue of Bakersfield Life, which was unveiled Saturday, June 27, in The Bakersfield Californian newspaper. They are two of 20 Kern County residents who succeeding in their professional fields, and also contributing to their local community in meaningful ways.

Gehlawat and Barrientos join Chain | Cohn | Clark partner Matt Clark who have been highlighted by Bakersfield Life Magazine for their professional and community work. Clark was selected for the “20 Under 40 People to Watch” list in 2014.

Learn a little bit more about two honorees here:

Neil Gehlawat

Neil K. Gehlawat has been an associate with the personal injury and workers’ compensation* law firm since 2012, where he focuses his practice on personal injury, and wrongful death cases.

He grew up in Bakersfield, graduated from Stockdale High School, and earned his bachelor’s degree from the University of California, Berkeley. He obtained his law degree from the University of Texas School of Law.

In his Bakersfield Life profile, Gehlawat said:

“I went to law school because I wanted to help real people, and I’m happy to say that I’m at a place where I’m doing that every day.”

As for community work, Gehlawat is the education committee chairman for the New Lawyers Division of Consumer Attorneys of California, founder of Bakersfield’s Cal Alumni Chapter, a member of the planning committee for Mothers Against Drunk Driving (Kern County) “Walk Like MADD & MADD Dash 5K” to end drunk driving locally, and a mentor for a North High School mentor program.

“I’ve brought my students downtown to my office so that they can see what I do, so that they can see the courthouse,” he said. “It’s much more powerful to bring them downtown and show them what I do, and let them visualize their future.”

To read Gehlawat’s full profile in Bakersfield Life, click here.

Jorge Barrientos

Jorge Barrientos joined the firm as the marketing director in early 2014, after working for five years at The Bakersfield Californian. He grew up in Bakersfield, went off to college and made his way back to Kern County after working a few years at The Orange County Register.

In Bakersfield, Barrientos’ community involvement includes serving as vice president of the Kern County Hispanic Chamber of Commerce’s Business and Education Foundation, member of MADD’s “Walk Like MADD & MADD Dash 5K” planning committee,, board member of the Bakersfield Museum of Art, mentor for North High School mentors program, and volunteer for several other nonprofit events and activities, many of them youth and education related.

He speaks with youth who are growing up in less than ideal situations, like he did as a teenager, Bakersfield Life mentioned.

“I say it’s not the end of the road. There are resources always available and good people who are always willing to help.”

He added: “I learned – from family, friends and mentors – that hard work overcomes a whole lot.”

To read Barrientos’ full profile in Bakersfield Life, click here.

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MEDIA

Making an Impact: 20 Under 40 People to Watch (Bakersfield Life Magazine, July 2015) – Jorge Barrientos and Neil Gehlawat

Recognizing Bakersfield’s leading young professionals: 20 Under 40 People to Watch (Bakersfield Life Magazine, July 2014) – Matt Clark