Despina Kartson has extensive experience spearheading global business development, marketing and communications initiatives, including strategic planning, practice and client development, public relations, design services and internal, external and digital communications. She leads BakerHostetler’s firmwide Business Development and Marketing department, and works closely with firm leadership to develop and implement targeted business development and marketing strategies.
For two decades, Despina has served as the head of marketing for numerous large, international law firms, including Jones Day, Morgan Lewis, and Latham & Watkins. She played an instrumental role in setting the strategic direction and overseeing the operational implementation of the firms’ client development, marketing and communications programs. Additionally, she led firm re-branding and website projects and worked closely with firm leadership on the combination of two firms.
Despina is a sought-after moderator and speaker at legal marketing conferences and was inducted into the Legal Marketing Association (LMA) Hall of Fame in 2020. She is a Fellow of the College of Law Practice Management, the Co-Chair of the New York CMO SIG and a member of the New York Local Steering Committee of the LMA. Notably, she served two terms on the Board of the International LMA and as President of the Metro New York LMA chapter. Despina was awarded the Susan Benjamin Legacy Award from the Metro New York LMA chapter, a lifetime achievement award given to a long-standing member who has left a distinguishable mark on the chapter.
