Letter from the Chairman
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Steven H. Davis
Chairman, Dewey & LeBoeuf |
At Dewey & LeBoeuf, diversity is a key element in our firm's business strategy. For that reason, we have a strong and dedicated Diversity Committee, which focuses on three key objectives:
First, to reinforce that diversity is fundamental to our firm's business and culture and should be woven into the fabric of the firm at every level.
Second, to establish Dewey & LeBoeuf as a diversity leader in the legal profession by not only benchmarking our diversity efforts against those of other law firms, but also by looking to the best practices of our clients and corporate leaders and by looking for ways that we can work with our clients to ensure that we promote diversity in the legal profession at large.
And, third, to take a fresh look at the guiding paradigms of diversity. We certainly acknowledge the need to provide equal opportunities to all people in the workplace and recognize that a more diverse workforce will improve our ability to succeed in an increasingly multicultural and global economy. We also focus on a third paradigm: that, through our increased diversity, we can deliver better results to our clients thanks to the different perspectives, creativity and flexibility of our people.
Since the inception of our Diversity Committee, Dewey & LeBoeuf has focused its diversity efforts in four core areas:
- Education and cultural awareness;
- Recruitment of diverse lawyers;
- Retention and promotion of diverse lawyers; and
- Outreach to our clients, our community and within the firm.
With a focus on these core areas, we have, in less than two years, designed and implemented many important initiatives to enhance our diversity recruiting efforts at law schools, to provide our diverse lawyers with greater access to quality mentors who will help to shape and guide their legal careers and to help promote greater cultural awareness and inclusion at the firm.
I am very proud of the work we have done to advance diversity not only at our own firm, but also within the legal profession at large. I am also proud that this work has received public recognition, including: the Minority Corporate Counsel Association's Thomas Sager Award in 2008; a perfect score in the 2009 Corporate Equality Index; a listing in the Human Rights Campaign's "Best Places to Work LGBT Equality"; and in London, the National Mentoring Consortium's "Employer of the Year" Award (2008).
While these awards serve as a positive reflection on, and celebration of, our diversity efforts, we understand that much work still needs to be done. As chairman, I am confident that, as we move forward, we will continue to raise the bar with respect to our diversity goals and position ourselves to be an employer of choice and a diversity champion in the legal profession.
Chairman