Spencer Bateman is a member of the J.D. Class of 2020 at Harvard Law School. Originally from California, he graduated from the University of Arizona in 2017 with a B.S.B.A. in Finance and a B.A. in Political Science. Prior to law school, Spencer interned with the U.S. House of Representatives, California State Assembly, and QGA Public Affairs, focusing on a variety of public policy issues including financial services, economic development, and international trade. As an undergraduate, he managed Government Affairs as a member of student government and was a member of the Financial Management Association Executive Board. At HLS, Spencer has been involved with the International Law Journal and Harvard Law and Entrepreneurship Project. During his 1L summer, Spencer worked with the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of California.

João Marinotti is a member of the J.D. Class of 2020 at Harvard Law School and served as LIDS Co-VP of Projects for the 2018–2019 school year. He was born in São Paulo, Brazil, and has since lived in the United States, China, and Scotland. Prior to law school, João received his B.A. in Linguistics from Columbia University, M.A. in Linguistics from the City University of New York, and M.S. in Cognitive Science from Edinburgh University. Combining his interests in law and linguistics, he served as rapporteur for the 2016 and 2017 Symposia on Language, the Sustainable Development Goals, and Vulnerable Populations held by the Study Group on Language and the United Nations. João has worked as a Summer Associate in Milbank LLP’s Global Project, Energy and Infrastructure Finance Group. He also helped create and administer the international finance legal clinic as part of the 2018 Workshop on Closing the Investment Gap on Sustainable Infrastructure co-convened by UN DESA, CDP, and the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies. In 2018, João founded Discus, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization driven to promote global sustainability by tapping into the passion, talent, and resources available in the private sector.

Teja Vemuri is currently a Masters in International Business candidate at The Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy with concentrations on Business for Social Impact, Development Finance and Development Economics. He was born and grew up in India, earned his Bachelors of Technology in Information and Communication Technology from SRM University (SRMIST) in 2016. Teja has a great passion for Development Finance Strategy and Financial Inclusion. Prior to Fletcher, He worked in consulting sector at Ernst and Young for digital technology and transformation (Business analysis and Due diligence) for banking and capital markets and spent his summer in Armenia working for Central Bank of Armenia in the area of SME Finance, credit and inclusion.

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Zekariah McNeal is a second-year student at Harvard Law School. He is an active member of the Harvard Law Review, Harvard Defenders, and the Black Law Students Association. Zekariah has an interest multilateral efforts to promote global economic and environmental sustainability. He graduated summa cum laude from Oklahoma Christian University where he obtained degrees in Electrical Engineering and Biblical Studies. He loves coffee with friends, hiking in the mountains, and enjoying great films at the theater.