Shermin Lakha
Managing Attorney & CEO

Shermin Lakha is the Managing Attorney and CEO of LVLUP Legal. She started LVLUP Legal as a progressive people focused law firm with a goal of modernizing the legal field by creating an open level of communication and providing flat-fee pricing.
Shermin is a proud female founder who is on a mission to break traditional stereotypes of what it means to be a lawyer. She is passionate about encouraging women in professional careers to take off their corporate "mask" and live authentically by embracing all facets of their personality as the attributes that give them their power.

After gaining experience working for Goldman Sachs, the United States Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of New York, and Freshfields, Bruckhaus, Derringer, Shermin set out to build LVLUP Legal to work directly with clients and deliver exceptional results. Since launching the practice, she has worked with a variety of clients ranging from digital companies, tech startups, restaurants, beauty and fashion brands, artists, event planners, and marketing companies.

Shermin understands that the pathway to success is not always straight and narrow, and by using creative techniques, Shermin helps clients secure investment financing, negotiate business deals, protect intellectual property, and assist with day-to-day legal advice.
Shermin serves a a Legal Advisor and Board Member for several emerging startups; is a recurring judge for the for the “She4All” and “Women of Impact” startup pitch competitions hosted by LLSHE, Berlin Cameron and the Luminary; has been featured on several podcasts; offers seminars on empowering entrepreneurs to understand the law; is a member of several female-founded organizations; and was invited to attend the Forbes 30 under 30 conference.

Shana Thomas
Associate Attorney

Shana Thomas is an Associate Attorney at LVLUP Legal whose practice is focused on trademark and contract law.

A graduate of New York Law School, Shana studied Intellectual Property law, and concentrated her curriculum on trademarks, copyrights, and business law. Shana also graduated with a Certificate from the New York Law School Innovation Center for Law & Technology.

Previously, Shana was a member of both the Licensing and Business & Legal Affairs teams at Discovery, Inc. where she worked with brands such as Food Network, HGTV, and TLC. Shana was also a member of the Trademark Team at Estée Lauder Companies where she protected and enforced global brands including Bumble and Bumble, Clinique, Le Labo and MAC Cosmetics. In law school, Shana benefitted from ample hands-on clinical experiences through her participation in New York Law School’s Trademark Clinic, as well as the Mediation and Negotiation Clinic. Shana also served as one of two student members on the New York City Bar Association’s Trademark and Unfair Competition Committee.

Shana received her B.A. from Elon University in North Carolina. In her spare time, she enjoys running, traveling, and trying the newest skincare products. Shana is passionate about entrepreneurship and enjoys working with clients in the beauty and media industries to protect their IP and build their brands.

Bianca Ascolese
Junior Associate

Bianca Ascolese is a Junior Associate at LVLUP Legal whose practice concentrates on all aspects of intellectual property law with a focus on trademark clearance, protection, and enforcement. Bianca is passionate about assisting entrepreneurs and startups protect, enforce, and monetize their intellectual property to build their brands.

Bianca graduated cum laude in May 2021 from New York Law School with a Certificate from the New York Law School Innovation Center for Law & Technology.

Prior to joining LVLUP Legal, Bianca worked on the Tapestry Intellectual Property and Privacy Legal Teams where she helped protect global brands such as Kate Spade, Stuart Weitzman, & Coach. During law school, Bianca participated in New York Law School’s Trademark Clinic, where she got hands-on experience enforcing and protecting the intellectual property of companies in the media, fashion, and beauty industries. intellectual property. Bianca also served as the Associate Managing Editor of the New York Law School’s Law Review and as the Professional Development Chair of New York LAw School’s Media, Entertainment, and Fashion Law Association.

Bianca received her B.A. from High Point University in North Carolina where she first developed her passion for becoming an attorney. In her spare time, Bianca enjoys joining live Peloton classes and eating good food with friends!

Celina Porteus
Student Attorney

Celina Porteus is a rising third-year law student at New York Law School studying Intellectual Property, with a curriculum that focuses heavily on trademarks and copyrights. Celina received her undergraduate degree from the University of Miami, where she studied Business Law. Prior to attending law school, she worked as a legal assistant at Cravath, Swaine and Moore. Currently, as an active member of the New York Law School community, Celina is the Vice President of the Media, Entertainment and Fashion Law Association and is affiliated with the Innovation Center for Law and Technology.

Shermin Lakha
Managing Attorney & CEO

Shermin Lakha is the Managing Attorney and CEO of LVLUP Legal. She started LVLUP Legal as a progressive people focused law firm with a goal of modernizing the legal field by creating an open level of communication and providing flat-fee pricing.
Shermin is a proud female founder who is on a mission to break traditional stereotypes of what it means to be a lawyer. She is passionate about encouraging women in professional careers to take off their corporate "mask" and live authentically by embracing all facets of their personality as the attributes that give them their power.

After gaining experience working for Goldman Sachs, the United States Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of New York, and Freshfields, Bruckhaus, Derringer, Shermin set out to build LVLUP Legal to work directly with clients and deliver exceptional results. Since launching the practice, she has worked with a variety of clients ranging from digital companies, tech startups, restaurants, beauty and fashion brands, artists, event planners, and marketing companies.

Shermin understands that the pathway to success is not always straight and narrow, and by using creative techniques, Shermin helps clients secure investment financing, negotiate business deals, protect intellectual property, and assist with day-to-day legal advice.
Shermin serves a a Legal Advisor and Board Member for several emerging startups; is a recurring judge for the for the “She4All” and “Women of Impact” startup pitch competitions hosted by LLSHE, Berlin Cameron and the Luminary; has been featured on several podcasts; offers seminars on empowering entrepreneurs to understand the law; is a member of several female-founded organizations; and was invited to attend the Forbes 30 under 30 conference.

Shana Thomas
Associate Attorney

Shana Thomas is an Associate Attorney at LVLUP Legal whose practice is focused on trademark and contract law.

A graduate of New York Law School, Shana studied Intellectual Property law, and concentrated her curriculum on trademarks, copyrights, and business law. Shana also graduated with a Certificate from the New York Law School Innovation Center for Law & Technology.

Previously, Shana was a member of both the Licensing and Business & Legal Affairs teams at Discovery, Inc. where she worked with brands such as Food Network, HGTV, and TLC. Shana was also a member of the Trademark Team at Estée Lauder Companies where she protected and enforced global brands including Bumble and Bumble, Clinique, Le Labo and MAC Cosmetics. In law school, Shana benefitted from ample hands-on clinical experiences through her participation in New York Law School’s Trademark Clinic, as well as the Mediation and Negotiation Clinic. Shana also served as one of two student members on the New York City Bar Association’s Trademark and Unfair Competition Committee.

Shana received her B.A. from Elon University in North Carolina. In her spare time, she enjoys running, traveling, and trying the newest skincare products. Shana is passionate about entrepreneurship and enjoys working with clients in the beauty and media industries to protect their IP and build their brands.

Bianca Ascolese
Junior Associate

Bianca Ascolese is a Junior Associate at LVLUP Legal whose practice concentrates on all aspects of intellectual property law with a focus on trademark clearance, protection, and enforcement. Bianca is passionate about assisting entrepreneurs and startups protect, enforce, and monetize their intellectual property to build their brands.

Bianca graduated cum laude in May 2021 from New York Law School with a Certificate from the New York Law School Innovation Center for Law & Technology.

Prior to joining LVLUP Legal, Bianca worked on the Tapestry Intellectual Property and Privacy Legal Teams where she helped protect global brands such as Kate Spade, Stuart Weitzman, & Coach. During law school, Bianca participated in New York Law School’s Trademark Clinic, where she got hands-on experience enforcing and protecting the intellectual property of companies in the media, fashion, and beauty industries. intellectual property. Bianca also served as the Associate Managing Editor of the New York Law School’s Law Review and as the Professional Development Chair of New York LAw School’s Media, Entertainment, and Fashion Law Association.

Bianca received her B.A. from High Point University in North Carolina where she first developed her passion for becoming an attorney. In her spare time, Bianca enjoys joining live Peloton classes and eating good food with friends!

Celina Porteus
Student Attorney

Celina Porteus is a rising third-year law student at New York Law School studying Intellectual Property, with a curriculum that focuses heavily on trademarks and copyrights. Celina received her undergraduate degree from the University of Miami, where she studied Business Law. Prior to attending law school, she worked as a legal assistant at Cravath, Swaine and Moore. Currently, as an active member of the New York Law School community, Celina is the Vice President of the Media, Entertainment and Fashion Law Association and is affiliated with the Innovation Center for Law and Technology.

Shermin Lakha
Managing Attorney & CEO

Shermin Lakha is the Managing Attorney and CEO of LVLUP Legal. She started LVLUP Legal as a progressive people focused law firm with a goal of modernizing the legal field by creating an open level of communication and providing flat-fee pricing.
Shermin is a proud female founder who is on a mission to break traditional stereotypes of what it means to be a lawyer. She is passionate about encouraging women in professional careers to take off their corporate "mask" and live authentically by embracing all facets of their personality as the attributes that give them their power.

After gaining experience working for Goldman Sachs, the United States Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of New York, and Freshfields, Bruckhaus, Derringer, Shermin set out to build LVLUP Legal to work directly with clients and deliver exceptional results. Since launching the practice, she has worked with a variety of clients ranging from digital companies, tech startups, restaurants, beauty and fashion brands, artists, event planners, and marketing companies.

Shermin understands that the pathway to success is not always straight and narrow, and by using creative techniques, Shermin helps clients secure investment financing, negotiate business deals, protect intellectual property, and assist with day-to-day legal advice.
Shermin serves a a Legal Advisor and Board Member for several emerging startups; is a recurring judge for the for the “She4All” and “Women of Impact” startup pitch competitions hosted by LLSHE, Berlin Cameron and the Luminary; has been featured on several podcasts; offers seminars on empowering entrepreneurs to understand the law; is a member of several female-founded organizations; and was invited to attend the Forbes 30 under 30 conference.

Shana Thomas
Associate Attorney

Shana Thomas is an Associate Attorney at LVLUP Legal whose practice is focused on trademark and contract law.

A graduate of New York Law School, Shana studied Intellectual Property law, and concentrated her curriculum on trademarks, copyrights, and business law. Shana also graduated with a Certificate from the New York Law School Innovation Center for Law & Technology.

Previously, Shana was a member of both the Licensing and Business & Legal Affairs teams at Discovery, Inc. where she worked with brands such as Food Network, HGTV, and TLC. Shana was also a member of the Trademark Team at Estée Lauder Companies where she protected and enforced global brands including Bumble and Bumble, Clinique, Le Labo and MAC Cosmetics. In law school, Shana benefitted from ample hands-on clinical experiences through her participation in New York Law School’s Trademark Clinic, as well as the Mediation and Negotiation Clinic. Shana also served as one of two student members on the New York City Bar Association’s Trademark and Unfair Competition Committee.

Shana received her B.A. from Elon University in North Carolina. In her spare time, she enjoys running, traveling, and trying the newest skincare products. Shana is passionate about entrepreneurship and enjoys working with clients in the beauty and media industries to protect their IP and build their brands.

Bianca Ascolese
Junior Associate

Bianca Ascolese is a Junior Associate at LVLUP Legal whose practice concentrates on all aspects of intellectual property law with a focus on trademark clearance, protection, and enforcement. Bianca is passionate about assisting entrepreneurs and startups protect, enforce, and monetize their intellectual property to build their brands.

Bianca graduated cum laude in May 2021 from New York Law School with a Certificate from the New York Law School Innovation Center for Law & Technology.

Prior to joining LVLUP Legal, Bianca worked on the Tapestry Intellectual Property and Privacy Legal Teams where she helped protect global brands such as Kate Spade, Stuart Weitzman, & Coach. During law school, Bianca participated in New York Law School’s Trademark Clinic, where she got hands-on experience enforcing and protecting the intellectual property of companies in the media, fashion, and beauty industries. intellectual property. Bianca also served as the Associate Managing Editor of the New York Law School’s Law Review and as the Professional Development Chair of New York LAw School’s Media, Entertainment, and Fashion Law Association.

Bianca received her B.A. from High Point University in North Carolina where she first developed her passion for becoming an attorney. In her spare time, Bianca enjoys joining live Peloton classes and eating good food with friends!

Celina Porteus
Student Attorney

Celina Porteus is a rising third-year law student at New York Law School studying Intellectual Property, with a curriculum that focuses heavily on trademarks and copyrights. Celina received her undergraduate degree from the University of Miami, where she studied Business Law. Prior to attending law school, she worked as a legal assistant at Cravath, Swaine and Moore. Currently, as an active member of the New York Law School community, Celina is the Vice President of the Media, Entertainment and Fashion Law Association and is affiliated with the Innovation Center for Law and Technology.