Duane Morris is committed to being a law firm that includes people of diverse backgrounds and fully utilizes their talents to provide legal services of the highest quality.
The firm will employ effective methods of recruitment of a diverse array of talent, and we will support their success and advancement within the firm.
Duane Morris is committed to fostering understanding, communication and respect among all people in the firm, including people of different races, religions, ages, genders, ethnic and cultural backgrounds, national origins, sexual preferences or orientations, medical conditions or disabilities, and marital, veteran or family statuses. The firm believes it should capitalize on the strength emanating from these differences. Drawing on the talents of all of the firm's personnel helps to create an optimum workplace, one which can attract and retain diverse personnel and clients, allowing it to enter and serve varying markets and approach services to its clients more creatively. Duane Morris has the ability to meet these challenges and recognizes the beneficial impact a successful diversity program will have on firm morale, productivity, strategies and success.
The Executive Committee of Duane Morris has appointed a Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee to facilitate the implementation of this Mission Statement.
To learn more, please contact Joseph K. West, Duane Morris Partner and Chief Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Officer, or Umica A. Anderson-Howard, DEI Manager.
Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Committee
Duane Morris Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Committee is chaired by Partner and Chief Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Officer Joseph K. West and committee vice chair and DEI Manager Umica Anderson-Howard, and comprised of diverse partners throughout its U.S. and London offices. The members have the responsibility of monitoring and mentoring all diverse associates working in the Firm. Once hired, diverse attorneys are provided with every opportunity to grow and advance through the ranks with their non-diverse counterparts. To achieve this goal, Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Committee members function both as advocates and mentors. They review hours billed and promote quality work assignments, as well as periodically discuss the associates' performance with office heads and practice group leaders. Duane Morris has been praised for these efforts to mentor, monitor and retain its diverse lawyers to maximize retention, dating back nearly two decades when they were included in the "2005 Vault/MCCA Guide to Law Firm Diversity Programs."
Vinita Sagoo
Employee Resource Groups
Duane Morris established its first affinity group in 2016 and has since included additional groups to further expand support of diversity, equity and inclusion throughout the firm. Staff groups and attorney groups for Asian Americans, Black/African Americans, Foreign Born, Hispanic/Latinos, DM Pride (LGBTQ) and People with Disabilities and Neurodiversity help build a sense of community, foster mentoring relationships, create client development opportunities and host speakers and events throughout the year. For more information about the Employee Resource Groups, please contact Joseph K. West or Umica A. Anderson-Howard.
The Power of Materialization in Black Media in Honor of Black History Month
It has been said that journalism is the first draft of history. The lens through which people of color are viewed has always been shaped by the words and images portrayed in the media. In a celebration of Black History Month, we are reminded of the power to materialize and create our history every day. Duane Morris Partner and Chief Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Officer Joseph K. West will be joined by Khadijah Sharif-Drinkard for an inspiring discussion on her journey from growing up in Harlem, attending Columbia University and Fordham Law School, to leading and closing deals at major networks that introduced new Black and diverse stories that better reflect our experiences and histories.
A Conversation with Robert Raben in Honor of Juneteenth 2023
Duane Morris Partner and Chief Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Officer Joseph K. West was joined by Robert Raben, former assistant U.S. attorney general, CEO and founder of the national public policy firm The Raben Group, and founder of the March on Washington Film Festival. Robert will share his vision and goals in creating the March on Washington Film Festival, which “serves as a national platform to tell, celebrate and increase awareness of the untold events and icons and foot soldiers, known and unsung, of the Civil Rights Movement."
Virtual Fireside Chat and Book Reveal with Bruce Jackson, Associate General Counsel, Microsoft
Microsoft's associate general counsel shares the inspirational story of his rise from childhood poverty in pre-gentrified New York City to a stellar career at the top of the technology and music industries in this stirring true story of grit and perseverance. As an accomplished Microsoft executive, Bruce Jackson handles billions of dollars of commerce as its associate general counsel while he plays a crucial role in the company's corporate diversity efforts. But few of his colleagues can understand the weight he carries with him to the office each day. He kept his past hidden from sight as he ascended the corporate ladder but shares it in full for the first time here. For more information, please visit the event page.
A Conversation with Will Calhoun in Honor of Black History Month
Duane Morris Partner and Chief Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Officer Joseph K. West will be joined by Will Calhoun, the renowned drummer for the groundbreaking band Living Colour. Will is also a writer, historian and documentary filmmaker. Will’s forthcoming documentary project, “The Bridge,” explores the African diaspora and the connections of people of color through the universal language of music. Visit the event page.
Duane Morris Attains Mansfield 5.0 Certification Plus Status in 2022
Duane Morris LLP has attained Mansfield 5.0 Certification Plus status. The goal of the Mansfield Rule is to boost the representation of historically underrepresented lawyers in law firm leadership. Achieving 5.0 Plus status indicates that, in addition to meeting or exceeding the baseline requirements, the firm has successfully reached at least 30 percent diverse lawyer representation in a notable number of current leadership roles.Duane Morris Partner and Chief Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Officer Joseph K. West Named Chair of American Bar Association Council of the Section of Legal Education and Admissions to the Bar
Duane Morris Partner and Chief Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Officer Joseph K. West was named chair of the Council of the American Bar Association Section of Legal Education and Admissions to the Bar at the ABA annual meeting in Chicago. The ABA is the largest voluntary association of lawyers in the world. As the national voice of the legal profession, the ABA works to improve the administration of justice, promotes programs that assist lawyers and judges in their work, accredits law schools, provides continuing legal education and works to build public understanding around the world of the importance of the rule of law.HRC Names Duane Morris as a “Best Place to Work for LGBTQ Equality” with a 100 Percent Rating on the 2022 Corporate Equality Index
For the fifth consecutive year, Duane Morris LLP received a score of 100 percent on the Human Rights Campaign Foundation’s 2022 Corporate Equality Index (CEI), the nation’s premiere benchmarking survey and report measuring corporate policies and practices related to LGBTQ workplace equality. Duane Morris LLP joins the ranks of 842 major U.S. businesses that also earned top marks this year.
To earn top ratings, these employers took concrete steps to establish and implement comprehensive policies, benefits and practices that ensure greater equity for LGBTQ+ workers and their families. Duane Morris LLP’s efforts in satisfying all of the CEI’s criteria earned a 100 percent ranking and the designation as a 2022 Best Place to Work for LGBTQ+ Equality.
In 2022, 2021, 2019 and 2018, Duane Morris also earned a 100 percent score on the CEI and the distinction of being one of the “Best Places to Work for LGBTQ+ Equality.”
Duane Morris Awarded California Lawyers Association 2020 Excellence in Diversity Award for Law Firms
Duane Morris LLP has been awarded the 2020 Excellence in Diversity Award for Law Firms from the California Lawyers Association (CLA). The award recognizes the outstanding efforts made by a law firm to promote diversity in the legal industry, in their organization or among their peers. Overall, CLA Awards recognize attorneys, judges, organizations and programs that demonstrate an extraordinary commitment to promoting justice, diversity, high standards of ethics and excellence in the legal industry.
HRC Names Duane Morris as a “Best Place to Work for LGBTQ Equality” with a 100 Percent Rating on the 2021 Corporate Equality Index
For the fourth consecutive year, Duane Morris LLP received a score of 100 percent on the Human Rights Campaign Foundation’s 2021 Corporate Equality Index (CEI), the nation’s premiere benchmarking survey and report measuring corporate policies and practices related to LGBTQ workplace equality. Duane Morris LLP joins the ranks of more than 680 major U.S. businesses that also earned top marks this year.
The results of this year’s CEI showcase how 1,142 U.S.-based companies are not only promoting LGBTQ-friendly workplace policies in the U.S., but helping advance the cause of LGBTQ inclusion in workplaces abroad. Duane Morris LLP’s efforts in satisfying all of the CEI’s criteria earned a 100 percent ranking and the designation as a Best Place to Work for LGBTQ Equality.
In 2021, 2019 and 2018, Duane Morris also earned a 100 percent score on the CEI and the distinction of being one of the “Best Places to Work for LGBTQ Equality.”
A Pride Month Celebration and Conversation with Stacey Stevenson
Stacey Stevenson is an experienced business leader who has worked in defense, technology and finance senior roles. She was recently senior managing director at Charles Schwab and Co. in Westlake, Texas, where she oversaw major initiatives, including voice technology, digital and talent. While at Charles Schwab, she tirelessly advocated for creating a safe and inclusive space for all in the workplace in her roles as local and national co-chair for Schwab’s Pride ERG and through the partnerships she established with multiple LGBTQ nonprofits. Stacey has been active in the fight for equality in Dallas through leading community projects and nonprofit board service. Visit the event page.
A Conversation with Wendell Pierce in Honor of Juneteenth
Duane Morris Partner and Chief Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Officer Joseph K. West will be joined by actor, activist and entrepreneur Wendell Pierce to discuss issues of concern to communities of color and Wendell’s recent entry into media ownership.
The Past, Present and Future of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Through the Eyes of Our Pioneers
In celebration of Black History Month, Duane Morris presented a panel discussion featuring Black pioneers of Duane Morris LLP. For more information, please visit the event page.
Chambers Diversity and Inclusion, featuring Joseph K. West
Chambers D&I - Joseph West from Chambers and Partners on Vimeo.
Women of Color Lawyers: From Being Perceived as Meek, Mad or Moody to Becoming Mighty Leaders
A Juneteenth Town Hall with Congresswoman Lucy McBath
Duane Morris honored Juneteenth, the oldest nationally celebrated commemoration of the ending of slavery in the United States, with a town hall discussion featuring U.S. Representative Lucy McBath of Georgia’s 6th District.
A Pride Month Celebration and Town Hall
A webinar with state Senator Toni G. Atkins, former state Senator Kehoe and San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria about the history of LGBTQ political campaigns and successes from 1993 to the present and future. Please visit the event page for more information.
2021 George Boyer Vashon Lecture
This webinar discusses the work of the commission generally, as well as offer a specific analysis of Rule 8.4, its far-reaching impact and the various states that have adopted iterations of the rule. Please visit the event page for more information.
Asian Pacific American Heritage Month Celebration: A Conversation with Congressman Andy Kim and Journalist Nydia Han
U.S. Representative Andy Kim and Nydia Han, Emmy-Award winning journalist, share insight on life as an Asian Pacific American in the United States and the collective steps we all must take to combat stereotypes, microaggressions and other harmful behaviors and attitudes. Please visit the event page for more information.
Veterans' Voices: Experiences of African Americans in the Armed Forces
African Americans have served courageously and honorably in the U.S. military throughout the country’s history. This town hall honors the contributions of Black service members and veterans and provides insight into the African American military experience. Please visit the event page for more information.
The History of Black Judges and Lawyers in California
Duane Morris LLP, the National Bar Association Region 9, the California Association of Black Lawyers, the California Lawyers Association Racial Justice Committee, the California Lawyers Association Litigation Section and the Charles Houston Bar Association present The History of Black Judges and Lawyers in California. Please visit the event page for more information.
Let's Not Repeat History: Strategies to Support, Retain and Promote Diverse Attorneys During COVID-19
Presenters from Duane Morris LLP, NAPABA, The Belonging Project, LexisNexis® Risk Solutions Group, Hewlett Packard Enterprise, King & Spalding and Walmart Inc. shared how their organizations are working to support, retain and promote diverse attorneys, particularly Asian Pacific Americans, in these extraordinarily challenging times. Please visit the event page for more information.
Critical Care: Addressing Healthcare Disparities in Communities of Color
Duane Morris hosted the meeting, "Critical Care: Addressing Healthcare Disparities in Communities of Color," to share insights on the long-standing healthcare crisis in minority communities across the United States and the efforts underway to ensure equal access to quality healthcare for everyone. Please visit the event page for more information.
Black Lawyers in America: A National Town Hall Series
Duane Morris, along with the American Bar Association, the Commercial Law Section of the National Bar Association, the Black Entertainment and Sports Lawyers Association, the Association of Law Firm Diversity Professionals and the Leadership Council on Legal Diversity, hosted the "Black Lawyers in America: A National Town Hall Series."
Duane Morris Hosts a Conversation with Distinguished Alumnae
Duane Morris’ Philadelphia Diversity & Inclusion Committee and Women's Impact Network for Success (WINS) hosted an event featuring four distinguished firm alumnae. The Honorable Marjorie Rendell, the Honorable Gene Pratter, Barbara Adams and Paulette Brown shared stories about their time at the Firm and discussed their extraordinary professional accomplishments.
Paulette Brown was a partner in the Employment & Immigration Practice Group at Duane Morris from 2000 to 2005. She went on to serve as president of the American Bar Association, making her the first woman of color to hold that office. Under her leadership, she created the Diversity & Inclusion 360 Commission to analyze the state of diversity and inclusion in the legal profession, the judicial system and the ABA. Ms. Brown also served as president of the National Bar Association, where she led a delegation that monitored the first free and democratic elections in South Africa.
Duane Morris Partner Lisa Scruggs Named to Crain's 2019 Notable Minorities List
Duane Morris partner Lisa T. Scruggs has been recognized in Crain’s Chicago Business list of Notable Minorities in Accounting, Consulting & Law 2019. Crain’s writes:
At Duane Morris, Lisa Scruggs provides litigation and counseling work for education and school reform organizations, including charter and private schools. She has handled cases involving new school development, virtual education, teacher evaluation, school finance and parent/student civil rights. Scruggs joined Duane Morris in 2014 from Jenner & Block, where she was a partner. Scruggs was senior policy adviser to the CEO of Chicago Public Schools in 2004-06 and a member of the blue-ribbon commission to evaluate magnet and selective schools admission policy in 2010-11. Scruggs is a member of Duane Morris’ Chicago office inclusion committee and was on the firm’s Women’s Impact Network for Success steering committee. She is on the advisory board of the Alliance of Public Charter Schools. For more information, visit the Crain’s website.
Duane Morris WINS Recognizes Cyndie M. Chang for Efforts to Advance Women in the Legal Profession
The Duane Morris Women’s Impact Network for Success (WINS) has honored Cyndie M. Chang, managing partner of the firm’s Los Angeles office, with the Margery Reed Professional Excellence Award at a ceremony during Duane Morris’ annual firmwide meeting.
Cyndie M. Chang manages the firm’s Los Angeles office, maintains an active practice, is a community leader, including serving as a board member for the National Association of Women Lawyers, Duane Morris’ Partners Board, Loyola Law School, Los Angeles, and as past president of the National Asian Pacific American Bar Association, still finds time to be a strong mentor to young lawyers.
John A. Nixon and Theresa A. Langschultz Named Best of the Bar: Philadelphia's Top Lawyers
The Philadelphia Business Journal selected partner John A. Nixon and associate Theresa A. Langschultz for inclusion in the “Best of the Bar: Philadelphia’s Top Lawyers” list for their significant and recent achievements. Read the interviews on the Philadelphia Business Journal website.Duane Morris Partner and Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer Joseph K. West Named Recipient of Chambers and Partners' Inaugural Lifetime Achievement Award: Diversity & Equality
At the 2019 USA Chambers Diversity and Inclusion Awards on June 6, 2019, Joseph K. West was honored as the inaugural recipient of the Chambers and Partners’ Lifetime Achievement Award: Diversity & Equality for his commitment to advancing diversity and inclusion.Duane Morris Hosts Civil Rights Icon Fred Gray, Esq.
On April 5, 2019, Duane Morris was honored to host a talk and reception with Fred Gray, Esq., the noted trial attorney, minister and former elected official who represented Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and Rosa Parks and argued a number of landmark civil rights cases, including:
- Browder v. Gayle, which integrated the buses in the city of Montgomery, 1956
- Gomillion v. Lightfoot, which opened the door for redistricting and reapportioning legislative bodies across the nation and laid the foundation for the concept of “one man, one vote”
- William v. Wallace, which resulted in the court’s ordering the state of Alabama to protect marchers as they walked from Selma to Montgomery to present grievances as a result of being unable to vote
- Mitchell v. Johnson, one of the first civil rights actions brought to remedy systematic exclusion of blacks from jury service
- Lee v. Macon, which integrated all state institutions of higher learning in Alabama under the control of the state Board of Education, as well as most elementary and secondary school systems.
Speakers for the event included Matthew A. Taylor, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Duane Morris LLP; Nolan A. Atkinson, Jr., Chief Diversity & Inclusion Officer, City of Philadelphia; and Joseph K. West, Partner and Chief Diversity & Inclusion Officer, Duane Morris LLP.
Duane Morris Goes Purple in Support of LGBT Youth
Every year on Spirit Day, Duane Morris turns its website purple to support LGBT youth and the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation's (GLAAD) anti-bullying campaign. The Daily Report's ATLaw blog recognized that Duane Morris led the way among law firms in this consciousness-raising effort, being the only firm listed as a participant as far back as 2012. Since then, other law firms have joined Duane Morris and the many well-known companies who pledge to go purple each October. Duane Morris attorneys are active in organizations that support LGBT inclusion, from the workplace to the broader community. Attorneys at Duane Morris have taken an active role in LGBT networking groups and law associations, including the National LGBT Bar Association as well as local organizations, and have written on topics including transgender workplace law.
Chicago Inclusion Committee Lunch with Abdul Misbah
On May 8, 2018, the Chicago Inclusion Committee hosted a lunch presentation by Abdul Misbah, an Afghan attorney who has been recognized for his social advocacy and contributions to the rule of law in Afghanistan by the U.S. State Department, the U.S. Defense Department, numerous Afghan Government agencies, the United Nations Refugee Agency, the Norwegian Refugee Agency and the International Development Law Organization. Mr. Misbah, who worked with the U.S. military and diplomatic offices prosecuting Taliban and other insurgent fighters, provided an overview of the cultural and religious issues that arose while working with U.S. and Afghan attorneys, and how he managed those issues.
Mr. Misbah also told the story of his own legal carrier, which began in 2004 after he graduated from Kabul University, where he later served as the Dean of the Law Faculty. Early in his legal career, Mr. Misbah advocated for children, gender equality, and protections for indigent people in rural Afghan communities. From 2010 to 2015, Mr. Misbah assisted the U.S. Defense and State Departments in Afghanistan, serving as the lead Afghan legal consultant to an international team of lawyers in the Prosecution Department of the Justice Center in Parwan. During that time, he also worked with former Duane Morris partner John Maher. In 2015, to protect his family’s safety after receiving death threats, Mr. Misbah moved to Chicago. He has since reconnected with John Maher and together they formed Misbah Maher Consultancy LLC.
Please visit the Duane Morris LLP Facebook page to view photos from this event.
Los Angeles Business Journal Names Cyndie Chang One of the Most Influential Minority Attorneys in Los Angeles
The Los Angeles Business Journal recognized Duane Morris Los Angeles Managing Partner Cyndie Chang as one of the 50 Most Influential Minority Attorneys, citing her extensive litigation experience and leadership within the firm and in the legal community.
The Human Rights Campaign Foundation Names Duane Morris as a “Best Place to Work for LGBTQ Equality” with a 100 Percent Rating on the 2018 Corporate Equality Index
The Human Rights Campaign Foundation recognized Duane Morris as a “Best Place to Work for LGBTQ Equality” with a 100 percent rating on its Corporate Equality Index 2018, which rates a broad range of employers on the strength and inclusiveness of policies, benefits and practices for gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender employees. The Corporate Equality Index rating criteria focus on four main areas:
- Non-discrimination policies across business entities;
- Equitable benefits for LGBTQ workers and their families;
- Internal education and accountability metrics to promote LGBTQ inclusion competency; and,
- Public commitment to LGBTQ equality
Holocaust Survivor Sam Harris Speaks at Chicago Inclusion Committee Event
On September 26, 2017, Samuel Harris, a Holocaust survivor and a founder and President Emeritus of the Illinois Holocaust Museum & Education Center, shared his remarkable story with the Chicago office at a special Inclusion Committee presentation. With poignancy and even humor, Sam recounted his memories as one of the youngest survivors of the Holocaust. Born in Deblin, Poland, in 1935, Sam was just four years old when the war came to his town. Having lost his parents and most of his family during the Holocaust, Sam survived by hiding, from the ages of seven to nine-and-a-half, in the Deblin and Czestochowa concentration camps. Although an orphan when he arrived in the USA at the age of twelve, Sam was filled with hope about the possibilities awaiting him. Through the Jewish Children's Bureau in Chicago, Sam was adopted by Dr. Ellis and Mrs. Harriet Harris of Northbrook. He went to New Trier High School and was diligent in his studies and intense in athletic competition. College and a career, marriage and fatherhood followed, but in 1981, he reconnected with his past at the World Gathering of Jewish Holocaust Survivors in Jerusalem. Today, he speaks to thousands of children and adults annually. Sam was an instrumental force behind the building of the 65,000 square-foot Illinois Holocaust Museum & Education Center. In 2014, Sam was the proud recipient of the Ellis Island Medal of Honor.
View photos from the event on our Facebook page.
Duane Morris Partner John A. Nixon Receives Pennsylvania Diversity Council Leadership Excellence Award
In August 2017, John A. Nixon was honored with a Leadership Excellence Award from the Pennsylvania Diversity Council at the 8th Annual Philadelphia Diversity and Leadership Conference (PADC). The award is presented to individuals who exhibit leadership excellence in their organizations and communities. Winners are chosen for professional leadership skills, effective and efficient management, innovation and vision.
Created in 2010, PADC aims to foster a learning environment for organizations to grow and leverage their knowledge of diversity. With councils in Pittsburgh and Philadelphia, PADC provides opportunities for organizations, professionals and students to learn diversity best practices from corporate leaders.
Mr. Nixon, a partner in the Philadelphia office practices in the area of employee benefits and executive compensation. He is a frequent lecturer, commentator and author on executive compensation and employee benefits issues.
Duane Morris Chicago Office Named a Top Law Firm for LGBTQ Best Practices by Equality Illinois
In August 2017, Equality Illinois recognized Duane Morris as a Top Law Firm in recruiting, hiring and retaining LGBTQ lawyers and employees in its annual “Raising the Bar” survey on LGBTQ inclusivity.
Duane Morris Partner Cyndie Chang Elected President of the National Asian Pacific American Bar Association and Honored by the Asian Pacific Women Lawyers Association
In November 2016, Cyndie Chang was elected president of the National Asian Pacific American Bar Association (NAPABA) for 2016-2017. She has served the organization in various leadership roles, including vice president of communications, secretary and regional governor, and was recognized by the organization as one of its 2010 “Best Lawyers Under 40.”
Ms. Chang was also recently honored by the Asian Pacific American Women Lawyers Association (APAWLA) for being the first female managing partner of a major Los Angeles area firm. APAWLA is an organization that promotes inclusion, empowerment and advancement of Asian Pacific American women in the legal profession.
Ms. Chang is the managing partner of the firm's Los Angeles office and litigates complex business and commercial disputes involving contracts, unfair competition, trademark, trade secrets, products liability, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), broker disputes, entertainment and real estate law.
Duane Morris Partner Denyse Sabagh Receives the Pro Bono Leadership Award
In October 2016, Denyse Sabagh received the second annual Duane Morris Pro Bono Leadership Award for her pro bono aid to many low-income immigrants throughout her career, including refugees, asylees, citizenship applicants, domestic violence survivors, children and many more. In addition to serving on the firm’s Pro Bono Committee since its inception, Ms. Sabagh, who serves as chair of Duane Morris’ Immigration Practice Group, has led the American Immigration Lawyers Association’s (AILA) pro bono efforts for decades. She has averaged more than 100 pro bono hours annually since the firm began collecting data on pro bono service and has mentored and encouraged many Duane Morris attorneys in their service.
Ms. Sabagh, a partner in the Washington, D.C. office, represents individual and corporate clients for all of their immigration needs and also represents clients in I-9 audits, complex immigration cases, consular processing and immigration ramifications of criminal charges. In addition, she represents family-based clients.
Duane Morris Partner Terrance J. Evans Named to MCCA Next Generation Advisory Board
In September 2016, Terrance J. Evans was named to the Minority Corporate Counsel Association (MCCA) N-Gen (Next Generation) advisory board, a select group of 13 in-house and law firm attorneys throughout the country who assist the MCCA in its efforts to promote diversity and inclusion in the legal profession. Next Generation board members are chosen by the MCCA based on experience and recognized leadership in the law.
Evans serves as co-chair of the Duane Morris San Francisco Diversity and Inclusion Committee and is the West Coast Vice Chair of the firm’s Banking Practice Group. Evans was also selected as an LCLD Fellow for the 2012 Fellows Program of the Leadership Council on Legal Diversity (LCLD), a national organization made up of the legal profession's top general counsels and managing partners.
Duane Morris Partner Eduardo Ramos-Gómez Receives Buen Vecino Award from U.S.-Mexico Chamber of Commerce
Duane Morris LLP is pleased to announce that the United States-Mexico Chamber of Commerce (USMCOC) has honored Singapore-based partner Eduardo Ramos-Gómez with its prestigious Buen Vecino Award. The award recognizes public- and private-sector leaders for their vision and commitment to mutually beneficial relations between Mexico and the United States. Ramos-Gómez accepted the award at the chamber's Binational Conference and Buen Vecino Awards Gala, held on October 28–29 in Mexico City.
Duane Morris Partner Cyndie M. Chang Named New Los Angeles Office Managing Partner
Duane Morris LLP has appointed Cyndie M. Chang managing partner of its Los Angeles office. Chang succeeds partner Russell W. Roten, who served in that role since the launch of the office in 2006. The firm's Los Angeles office serves clients throughout Southern California, as well as throughout the United States and internationally.
Chang has been elected to the National Asian Pacific American Bar Association (NAPABA) Board of Governors for the 2013-2014 board year, was named "Lawyer on the Fast Track" by The Recorder in 2013, and was accepted to join the ABA's Tort Trial & Insurance Practice Section (TIPS) Leadership Academy for the 2010-2011 bar year. Chang also presented at the National Asian Pacific American Bar Association (NAPABA) Annual Convention: Sustainability 2011: Renewal and Growth for Today and Tomorrow in Atlanta, Georgia and co-sponsored the LGBT Champagne Reception at the HNBA Annual Convention in Dallas.
Duane Morris Chicago Office Adds Litigator and Education Partner Lisa T. Scruggs
Lisa T. Scruggs has joined the firm's Trial Practice Group as a partner in its Chicago office. Scruggs bolsters Duane Morris' strengths in serving the education industry, bringing to the firm extensive litigation and counseling skills. Scruggs joins the firm from Jenner & Block LLP. Scruggs, founder and leader of her former firm's Education Industry team, provides counsel and representation to education reform organizations; charter school organizations, networks and individual schools; school districts; and private schools. Her practice has included handling issues regarding new school development, teacher quality reform, virtual education, public/private education ventures and student and parent rights.
Duane Morris Partner Jennifer Kearns Re-elected to Mama's Kitchen, Inc. Board of Directors
Jennifer A. Kearns, a partner in the firm's San Diego office, has been re-elected to the board of directors of Mama's Kitchen, Inc. Mama's Kitchen is a nonprofit organization that delivers full nutrition to low income clients affected by AIDS/HIV or cancer at no cost to the client. Full nutrition means three meals a day for every day of the year. If a client has minor children living in the household, Mama's Kitchen also delivers full nutrition to the children, also at no cost. Founded in 1990, Mama's Kitchen delivered its six millionth meal in 2012. Kearns served two consecutive terms as a member of the board of directors of Mama's Kitchen from 2004 through 2010 and served as board president in 2007. Her new term will commence January 1, 2014.
Kearns was also honored by the Tom Homann LGBT Law Association with its annual Friend of the Community Award. The award is presented to people who have made a positive impact in San Diego and the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community in particular.
Duane Morris Named to Honor Roll for Commitment to Women Lawyers and Diversity for Third Year in a Row
Duane Morris has been cited as one of five law firms on the 2012 Honor Roll of Legal Organizations Welcoming Women Professionals. Created by the Pennsylvania Bar Association (PBA) Commission on Women in the Profession (WIP), the annual list recognizes law firms that are committed to diversity and provide tools to enable women lawyers to continue and advance in their professional careers. They include flexible work schedules, backup childcare, networking events and other innovative programs. This is the third year in a row that Duane Morris has been named to the Honor Roll.
Duane Morris Wins MCCA Innovator Award for Diversity and Inclusion Program
Duane Morris is the 2012 recipient of the George B. Vashon Innovator Award presented by the Minority Corporate Counsel Association (MCCA) for innovative best practices by a law firm in Recruitment and Retention. John J. Soroko, Chairman of Duane Morris, accepted the award at the Diversity Innovators Awards Reception following the Pathways Conference on September 10, 2012 in New York City. The Innovator Award, which now carries the George B. Vashon name, has special significance to Duane Morris. Vashon was former Duane Morris Chief Diversity Officer Nolan N. Atkinson, Jr.'s great-grandfather. Atkinson and others petitioned the Pennsylvania Supreme Court to grant Vashon posthumous admission to practice law in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. The noted abolitionist and activist had been denied admission to practice law in Allegheny County (Pittsburgh) because of his race. Joseph K. West, President & CEO of MCCA, said that the Award carries Vashon's name because of his "steadfast determination in the face of discrimination and his accomplishments following rejection of admission to the bar in Pennsylvania." Vashon became the first African-American admitted to the bar in New York State in 1847.
Arfat Selvam Shortlisted for "Managing Partner of the Year" Award
Arfat Selvam, managing partner of Duane Morris' Singapore office, was shortlisted for "Managing Partner of the Year" award in the ALB Southeast Asia Law Awards 2012. Ms. Selvam has over forty years' experience in corporate finance having been at the forefront of the development of the financial services market in Singapore. Her wide array of experience includes mergers and acquisitions, corporate restructures, takeovers, funds raising in the capital markets, privatisations, financial services, cross border investments, financial services and international joint ventures.
Duane Morris Sponsors LGBT Event at Hispanic National Bar Association Annual Convention
Duane Morris was a co-sponsor for the LGBT Champagne Reception at the HNBA Annual Convention in Dallas this year. The reception was very well attended. Also during the HNBA Convention, Duane Morris partner Mauro M. Wolfe participated in a panel discussion on the topic of "Corporate Compliance and Business Ethics Programs."
Duane Morris Partner Denyse Sabagh Receives American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee Leadership Award
Denyse Sabagh, head of the firm's Immigration Practice Group, was honored with the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC)'s Hala Salam Maksoud Leadership Award. Named after former ADC president and nationally recognized civil and human rights advocate Dr. Hala Salam Maksoud, the award is presented annually to a community leader who has exhibited great leadership, strength and compassion toward the concerns of the community and the mission of ADC.
Denyse was previously named as one of the 30 "Stars of the Bar" in Washingtonian magazine's listing of the "top guns of the profession" in Washington, D.C. The magazine said, "Sabagh's peers describe her as the immigration lawyer who can do it all."
The Legal Intelligencer Names Two Duane Morris Partners to 2011 Diverse Attorneys of the Year List
Duane Morris partners Robert L. Archie, Jr. and Nolan N. Atkinson, Jr., the firm's Chief Diversity Officer, were named to The Legal Intelligencer's 2011 Diverse Attorneys of the Year for their outstanding professional achievements. Letters of recommendation for the recognition were solicited from bar associations, law firms, public interest groups, corporations and government offices. George B. Vashon, Atkinson's great-grandfather, who was posthumously admitted to the Pennsylvania Bar in 2010, was also listed.
Atkinson played a major role in petitioning the Pennsylvania Supreme Court on behalf of the family of George B. Vashon, Atkinson's great-grandfather, to posthumously admit Vashon to practice law in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Vashon sought admission to practice law in Allegheny County in 1847 and 1868, but was rejected in both cases because of his race.
In The Philadelphia Tribune, the nation’s oldest black newspaper, Archie, Jr. was named one of "Philadelphia's Most Influential African Americans 2009: Movers and Shakers" for demonstrating leadership in the community. Archie serves on the boards of the Pennsylvania Intergovernmental Cooperation Authority, Universal Institute Charter School, Lincoln University (the first historically black university in the U.S.) and Universal Communities Homes, Inc.
Duane Morris Partner Teresa Cavenagh Receives National Diversity Council's Powerful and Influential Women Award
Trial partner Teresa Cavenagh was awarded a Powerful and Influential Women award by the National Diversity Council at the 2010 Pennsylvania Diversity and Leadership Conference. At the conference, Cavenagh presented on a panel called Strategies for Professional Success. Cavenagh, who practices in the areas of commercial, class action, fraud, RICO and qui tam litigation, also presented earlier this year at the Pennsylvania Diversity Council Women in Leadership Symposium. In addition, she is a participant of the Leadership Program sponsored by the Committee on Women in the Profession of the Philadelphia Bar Association.
Duane Morris Sponsors Diversity Event in Boston
Duane Morris' Boston office recently hosted the Asian-American Lawyers Association of Massachusetts' third annual Speed Mentoring Night. Twenty mentors and 42 mentees engaged in five rounds of 15-minute sessions during which law students, recent graduates and junior lawyers were paired with more-senior attorneys from various fields and affiliations. The event was featured in a spread in Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly.
Duane Morris Sponsors Diversity Event in Chicago
Duane Morris hosted and sponsored an event for the Chicago Committee on Minorities in Large Law Firms. "Sweet Home Chicago," is an annual cocktail and networking gathering of the Committee showcasing diversity in large law firms to attorneys and law school students from around the country. Partner Neville Bilimoria helped to organize and support the event and partner Cheryl Blackwell Bryson spoke on "Maximizing Your Chances for a Successful Summer Experience" along with a panel of outside presenters. The firm's Chicago office held a reception for more than 350 attendees after the program.
Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Retreat
Each spring, diverse attorneys, firm leadership and others from across the country attend the annual Duane Morris Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Retreat to share their experiences at the firm and delve into topics including retention issues, Q&A sessions on matters that affect diverse attorneys and panels on marketing and business development strategies. The 2024 retreat was held on May 4 and featured the panels
Leveraging Uniqueness to Create Professional and Business Opportunities
[*PEOPLE.12162.GetURLWrapped|Maria Cáceres-Boneau], Moderator
Cyndie Chang, Partner, Duane Morris
John Nixon, Partner, Duane Morris
Hector Perez, Founder and CEO, Quantum FBI LLC
Sonia Zeledón, Associate General Counsel, Compliance and Data Privacy, The Hershey Company
DEI Sustainability: Impact, Opportunities and Challenges
Monté Squire, Moderator
Fatimah Conley, Esq., Vice President of Equity and Chief Diversity Officer, University of Delaware, Office of Institutional Equity
Tamika Crawl-Bey, Esq., Counsel, Intellectual Property, Corning
Cheryl Maddox, Esq., Chief Legal and Compliance Officer, PFM
A Town Hall with Matthew A. Taylor – The 3 C’s Revisited
Joseph K. West, Moderator
Inside Information: Perspectives from In-House
[*PEOPLE.13059.GetURLWrapped|Shireen Wetmore], Moderator
Chauntell Bobo, Deputy General Counsel, Women’s Tennis Association
Megha J. Charalambides, Associate General Counsel, Head of Employment, Zum LLC
Selyn Hong, Executive Vice President of Human Resources, American Chemical Society
Introduction to Science Fair & Topics
Ryan Wesley Brown
Irfan Hassam-Malani
Roundtable Series – The Science Fair
Charles in Charge – The Role of the COO – [*PEOPLE.1539.GetURLWrapped|Charles J. O'Donnell] and David Golden
Code Switching in the Workplace –Joseph K. West and Parthiv Patel
Marketing U – Class Is in Session – Justin Edmondson and Ellen Earl Gillis
My Benefits 101 – Carol Ann Verratti, Jennifer Davis and Priscila Bandeira
Preparing to Make Partner, Making Partner, Staying Partner – Sharon Laffrey and [*PEOPLE.11056.GetURLWrapped|Breeana Somers]
Throughout the event, Glenn Richeson, Ted J. Chiappari, Betty Luu, Dana Pellegrino and Haley Ferise shared personal stories in five-minute, “Meaningful Moment” presentations.
George B. Vashon Lecture Series
In conjunction with the retreat, Duane Morris holds its annual George B. Vashon Lecture. In 2024, the lecture explored the U.S. Supreme Court’s decisions in Students for Fair Admissions, Inc. v. Harvard and Students for Fair Admissions, Inc. v. University of North Carolina, which effectively ended race-based college admissions programs. Firm Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Matthew A. Taylor provided the welcome address and Trial Partner and Chief Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Officer Joseph K. West gave opening remarks for the lecture and discussion featuring:
Keynote Speaker
Antonio Garcia Padilla, Former President, University of Puerto Rico; Former Dean, University of Puerto Rico Law School; and Member of the ABA Accreditation Council ABA Accreditation Council
Panelists
Adanwimo “Ada” Okafor, General Counsel and Chief Diversity Equity and Inclusion Officer, American Board of Surgery
Dariely Rodriguez, Deputy Chief Counsel, Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law
Thomas G. Servodidio, Vice Chairman, Duane Morris LLP
Sozi Tulante, General Counsel, Form Energy
2023 Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Retreat
Each spring, diverse attorneys, firm leadership and others from across the country attend the annual Duane Morris Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Retreat to share their experiences at the firm and delve into topics including retention issues, Q&A sessions on matters that affect diverse attorneys and panels on marketing and business development strategies. The 2023 retreat was held on May 19 and featured the panels:
Artificial Intelligence
Brad A. Molotsky, Moderator
Adrienne Howard-Williams, Director, Associate General Counsel, WhatsApp/Facebook
Maitry Patel, Associate Corporate Counsel, Amazon
Richard L. Cruz, Partner, Duane Morris LLP
Cultural Sensitivity
Deborah L. Lu, Moderator
Gaëlle Bourout, Counsel, Avocate au barreau de Paris, Linklaters LLP
Leonor Magalhães Galvão, Ph.D., Partner, Magellan IP
Amauri G. Costa, Partner, Duane Morris LLP
Vijay K. Bange, Partner, Duane Morris
Jason Luo, Partner, Duane Morris LLP
Fireside Chat
Joseph K. West, Moderator
Christina M. Francis, President, Magic Johnson Enterprises
Eduardo Ramos-Gómez, Partner, Duane Morris
Unlocking Potential – Accessibility Is the Path to Achievement
Michael S. Zullo, Moderator
David Mann, Principal Researcher, Mathematica
Maria Town, CEO, American Association of People with Disabilities
Breeana J. Somers, Associate, Duane Morris LLP
Beyond the Horizon: Carrying DE&I into the Future
Julian Jackson-Fannin, Moderator
Zohra Anwari, Principal Product Counsel, GitHub, Inc.
Christina Deleveaux, Senior Attorney, Consolidated Edison Company of New York, Inc.
Naim Surgeon, Senior Litigation Attorney, NextEra Energy Resources
Roundtable Series: The Science Fair
Burnout
Brian P. Kerwin and Arjun D. Shah
Client Development
Justin Edmondson and Sarah A. Gilbert
Compensation
Matthew A. Taylor and Angelica A. Zabanal
Professional Development
Anthony J. Fitzpatrick, Miles Plaskett and Daniel Mitchell
The Value of Diversity
Chanel N. Bell and Stephanie Lamerce
Throughout the event, Hector A. Chichoni, C. Ben Vila, Diane Kim and Taylor Hertzler shared personal stories in five-minute, “Meaningful Moment” presentations.
George B. Vashon Lecture Series
In conjunction with the retreat, Duane Morris holds its annual George B. Vashon Lecture. In 2023, the lecture explored the topic “Understanding and Navigating Bias in Artificial Intelligence.” Firm Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Matthew A. Taylor provided the welcome address and Trial Partner and Chief Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Officer Joseph K. West gave opening remarks for the panel discussion featuring:
Suzanne Malveaux, CEO, Malveaux Global Media (MGM) and former CNN Anchor and White House Correspondent
Antony Haynes, Associate Dean, Albany Law School
Terrie-Lynne Devonish, Chief Legal Officer and Corporate Secretary, Altus Group
Agatha H. Liu, Ph.D., Intellectual Property Partner, Duane Morris LLP
Bridget McCormack, President and CEO, The American Arbitration Association
2022 Diversity and Inclusion Retreat
Each spring, diverse attorneys, firm leadership and others from across the country attend the annual Duane Morris Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Retreat to share their experiences at the firm and delve into topics including retention issues, Q&A sessions on matters that affect diverse attorneys and panels on marketing and business development strategies. The 2022 retreat was held on May 21 and featured the panels:
Just Ask Me: A Conversation About Disability
Michael S. Zullo, Moderator
Ted Kennedy, Jr., Immediate Past Chair, American Association of People with Disabilities and Partner, Epstein Becker Green
ESG and the Effect on Minority Communities
Rachel Hodgdon, President and CEO, International WELL Building Institute
Robynne Anderson, President, Emerging Ag, Inc.
Major Company General Counsels: Mentoring, Career Path and Client Expectation
Highlights from the DEI podcast episodes with:
Don Liu, Executive Vice President and Chief Legal & Risk Officer, Target
Noni L. Ellison, Senior VP, GC and Corporate Secretary, Tractor Supply Company
Tapping Into One’s Network and Playing the Long Game
David Watson
Rosa M. Ertze
Neurodiversity at Work: Targeted Employment Initiatives
Neil Barnett, Director of Inclusive Hiring and Accessibility, Microsoft
Niambi Powell, Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Specialist, Ford Motor Company
Roundtable Series: The Science Fair
Taking Care of Our Mental Health
Charles O'Donnell, Peggy Simoncini and Holly Engelmann
Specific Challenges for Lawyers of Color
Joseph K. West, N. Gordon Knox and Rona Eli
Navigating the Partnership Track
Tom Servodidio, Neville Bilimoria and Jennifer Migliori
Whiskey Tango Foxtrot: the Pros and Cons of Remote Work for Diverse Employees
Sharon Caffrey, Wayne Mack and Umica Anderson-Howard
Throughout the event, Nijgia Snapp, Tairan Wang, Alain Villeneuve and Paris Mayfield shared personal stories in five-minute, “Meaningful Moment” presentations.
George B. Vashon Lecture Series
In conjunction with the retreat, Duane Morris holds its annual George B. Vashon Lecture. In 2022, the lecture explored the theme “Strengthening the Diverse Legal Pipeline from Matriculation Through Maturity.”
Joseph K. West, Trial Partner and Chief Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Officer, led a panel discussion with:
Randy E. Hayman, Esq., Commissioner and CEO, Philadelphia Water Department
Kevin R. Johnson, Dean, Mabie-Apallas Professor of Public Interest Law and Professor of Chicana/o Studies, UC Davis School of Law
W. Davis Smith, Chair, California Law Pathways and former Senior Vice President and General Counsel San Diego Gas & Electric
Angela Winfield, Vice President and Chief Diversity Officer, Law School Admission Council
Sandra S. Yamate, Chief Executive Officer, The Institute for Inclusion in the Legal Profession
The 2021 virtual retreat was held on May 22 and featured the theme “What It Takes to Lead in an Era of Disruption.” Panels included:
Energy and The Big-I: Current Trends and Emerging Opportunities
Moderator: Rosa M. Ertze Garcia
Panelists:
Sheila Slocum Hollis
Miles Plaskett
Bruce Levy, President and CEO, BMR Energy
Douglass Sims, Director & Senior Advisor, NRDC
Streaming, Sharing and Sales: Business Opportunities in Industry Disruptions
Moderator: Terrance Evans
Panelists:
Khadijah Sharif-Drinkard, Senior Vice President, Business Affairs, ABC News
Teresa Farah, former GC to the Ruler of Dubai; GC for Al Ahli Holding
Shaka Johnson, Vice President, Law Department, Sony Electronics, Inc.
Emergence of Technology in the Post-Covid Era
Moderator: Rina R. Patel
Panelists:
Leah Perry, Chief Privacy Officer & Global Head of Privacy, Box, Inc.
Fayaz Jaffer, Principal/Partner, EY Americas Insurance Product Innovation Leader
Adrienne Howard-Williams, Assistant General Counsel, Microsoft Corporation
Business Development Master Class
Moderator: Joseph K. West
Panelists:
Edward Cramp
John Nixon
Sharon Caffrey
Manita Rawat
Mauro Wolfe
Social Media AMA (Ask Me Anything) Tom Chen
Roundtable Series: The Science Fair
Elevation in the Era of Big-I: What the Partnership Track Looks Like Now
Put Me In, Coach: Update on Assignment System
Failing Your Way to Success: Do Diverse Lawyers Get Fewer Second Chances?
Attorney Retention and Advancement: Why Diverse Lawyers Leave and What We Should Do to Get Them to Stay
Origination Credit – How Is It Determined?
George B. Vashon Lecture Series
In conjunction with the retreat, Duane Morris holds its annual George B. Vashon Lecture. In 2021, the firm explored the theme, “The Ethics of Legal Diversity: Model Rule 8.4 and Its Progeny.”
The 2016 adoption of ABA Model Rule 8.4 was a watershed moment, representing the first effort to enshrine principles of diversity and equity into the rules of ethics that guide the legal profession. The Vashon Lecture panel featured the lawyers who drafted the model rule language and led the amended rule through the approval process to final adoption.
Joseph K. West, Trial Partner and Chief Diversity & Inclusion Officer, led a panel discussion of the keynote address with:
Paulette Brown, Partner and Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer, Locke Lord; former President, American Bar Association; Creator, ABA Diversity & Inclusion 360 Commission; former Partner, Duane Morris LLP
Wendy Shiba, retired Executive VP, General Counsel & Secretary, KB Home; past President, NAPABA; past Member, ABA Commission on Women in the Profession and ABA Diversity & Inclusion 360 Commission
Aracely Munoz, Co-Chair, Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Intersectionality Task Force at the Center
for Reproductive Rights; former Director, ABA Commission on Racial and Ethnic Diversity in the Profession; former Vice President, Strategic Development, Minority Corporate Counsel Association; Member; ABA Commission on Women in the Profession
- Neurodiversity: What It Is and Why It Matters
- Fireside Chat
- The Future of Business Beyond Borders—How to Develop, How to Manage
- Social Media: Sharing and Showing in the Legal Industry
- Roundtable Series: The Science Fair
- Diversity and Gender Disparity in the Evaluation Process
- Origination Credit: How to Get It, How to Keep It
- Mentoring Doesn’t Stop When Associates Become Partners
- The Zen of Law Firm Partnership: How to Make It and What to Do When You Get There
In the 2019 George B. Vashon Lecture, the firm explored the theme, “Feast or Famine: What the Legal Profession Is Doing for Social Justice.” Kristen Clarke, President and Executive Director of the National Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law, delivered the keynote speech. Joseph K. West, Trial Partner and Chief Diversity & Inclusion Officer, led a panel discussion of the keynote address with Ricardo Anzaldua, Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary, Freddie Mac; Catherine Carr, Adjunct Professor, Penn Law School and Co-Chair, Civil Gideon and Access to Justice Task Force, Philadelphia Bar Association; and Neil Steinkamp, Managing Director, Complex Situations Consultant, Stout.
The 2018 retreat was held on April 27 and 28, and featured the theme of “Diversity Through the Looking Glass: Seeing What Our Clients See.” Lisa Helem, Editor in Chief of The National Law Journal, delivered the keynote speech. Panels included:
- What's the Code? The Keys to Tech Sector Success for Diverse Lawyers
- What They're Seeing and What They're Doing
- Bank on It! –The Changing Landscape in the Financial Services Sector
- The Importance of LGBT Awareness
For the 2018 Vashon lecture, the firm presented the panel discussion, " From Lean In to Time’s Up – The Corporate and Legal Landscape for Women." With introductory remarks by Duane Morris Chairman and CEO Matthew A. Taylor, the keynote speech by Stephanie Scharf, Chair of the ABA Commission on Women in the Profession and Joseph K. West serving as moderator, the panel featured Deborah DeHaas, Vice Chairman and National Managing Partner, Deloitte; Sandra A. Jeskie, Partner and Women’s Impact Network for Success (WINS) Chair, Duane Morris LLP; Deborah Elam, Retired Chief Diversity Officer and President of the GE Foundation, General Electric Company; and Stephanie Scharf.
The 2017 retreat was held on May 6 and featured the theme of “Diversity and Inclusion: New Approaches for a New Era.” Mark Roellig, Chief Technology and Administrative Officer at Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company, gave the keynote speech on “The Value of Inclusion: Client Expectations, Firm Responsibilities.” For the 2017 George Vashon Lecture, the firm presented the panel discussion, "Diversity and Inclusion in the Judiciary – A View From the Bench." With introductory remarks by Cyndie M. Chang and Joseph K. West serving as moderator, the panel featured Judge Theodore McKee, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit, Judge Luis Felipe Restrepo, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit, Chief Judge Solomon Oliver, Jr., U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Ohio and Judge Nannette Jolivette Brown, U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana.
The 2016 retreat was held on May 21 and featured the theme of “Linking Success to Organizational Culture.” Aracely Muñoz Petrich, Vice President of Development at the Minority Corporate Counsel Association, led Interactive Implicit Bias Training and Donald M. Remy, Executive Vice President of Law, Policy Governance, Chief Legal Officer at the NCAA, spoke on the “Intersection of Diversity, Culture, Entertainment and Sports.” George B. Vashon Guest Lecturer was David B. Wilkins, Lester Kissel Professor of Law, Vice Dean for Global Initiatives on the Legal Profession, Faculty Director, Center on the Legal Profession, at Harvard Law School. He spoke on the topic “Why Are There (Still) So Few Black Lawyers in Corporate Law Firms? A 20-Year Retrospective and Some Thoughts About the Future,” which was followed with a lively panel discussion moderated by Joseph K. West, Partner and Chief Diversity & Inclusion Officer at Duane Morris.
In 2015, the Diversity & Inclusion Retreat featured Fred Maahs, Senior Director of Community Investment, National Partnerships at Comcast, Vice President, Comcast Foundation, and former chair of the American Association of People with Disabilities, who spoke on the 25th Anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act and related current legal and social issues.
In 2015, our guest lecturer for the Vashon Lecture was Dean Wendell Pritchett, Interim Dean and Presidential Professor, University of Pennsylvania Law School Donna Cooper, Executive Director, Public Citizens for Children and Youth (PCCY), moderated the discussion “What Do We Mean When We Say Education Is a Civil Right?” with panelist Judge Wendy Beetlestone, Federal Judge, U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, Anthony Hardy Williams, State Senator, Pennsylvania and Lisa Scruggs, Partner, Duane Morris LLP.
In 2014, our guest lecturer was The Honorable Theodore A. McKee, Chief Judge, United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit. Renée Cardwell Hughes, CEO, American Red Cross Southeastern Pennsylvania Chapter, moderated a panel that included Robert W. Bogle, President and Chief Executive Officer, The Philadelphia Tribune, Zane D. Memeger, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania and Eric R. Breslin, Partner, Duane Morris.
In 2013, our retreat guest lecturer was Debo P. Adegbile, Special Counsel, NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund, Inc. Dean and Bernard G. Segal Professor of Law Michael A. Fitts, University of Pennsylvania Law School, moderated a panel that included Harold Jackson, Editorial Page Editor of The Philadelphia Inquirer, and Jennifer R. Clarke, Executive Director of Public Interest Law Center of Philadelphia. Nationally known consultants Dr. Arin N. Reeves and Kathleen B. Nalty also engaged the group on enhancing firm culture through diversity and inclusion.
In 2012, retreat guest speakers included Joseph K. West, President and CEO, Minority Corporate Counsel Association and Kenneth Gamble, Chairman, Universal Companies; Chairman, Philadelphia International Records; and Co-Founder of TSOP (The Sound of Philadelphia). The Vashon topic in 2012 was "The Law & Politics of Affirmative Action." Randall L. Kennedy, the Raymond Pace and Sadie T.M. Alexander Visiting University of Pennsylvania Professor of Law in Civil Rights, the Michael R. Klein Professor of Law at Harvard, and award-winning author, was the guest lecturer. In addition, Duane Morris invited a panel moderated by David L. Cohen, Executive Vice President at Comcast Corporation, to comment on the positions taken by Professor Kennedy. The panelists included Joanne Epps, Dean and Professor of Law, Temple University Beasley School of Law; Sharmain Matlock-Turner, President and CEO, Urban Affairs Coalition; and Thomas Servodidio, Duane Morris partner and chair of the Employment, Labor, Benefits and Immigration Practice Group.
In 2011, guest speakers included Don H. Liu, Corp. Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary, Xerox Corporation; Daniel R. Biddle and Murray Dubin, authors of Tasting Freedom; and Tommy M. Shi, Esq., Diversity and Inclusion Officer, Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC. In 2010, guest speakers included Mayda Prego, Senior Counsel, Chevron Corporation's Global Downstream/Latin America & Caribbean Regional Unit, and Norma Romero-Mitchell, President of Benefits Plus Consulting Group, Inc.
In 2009, our diverse attorneys and diversity and inclusion committee members attended a dinner at Philadelphia City Hall, featuring speaker Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter.
In 2008, our guest speaker was Wendy Shiba, Executive Vice President, General Counsel & Corporate Secretary of KB Home. In 2007, our guest speaker was Douglas Gaston, Senior Vice President and General Counsel of Comcast Cable.
Diversity and inclusion are key components of the firm's recruiting and retention programs. In fact, Duane Morris was not only a recipient of the Minority Corporate Counsel Association's prestigious award for innovative best practices by a law firm in Recruitment and Retention, the MCCA actually renamed it as the George B. Vashon Innovator Award, further honoring a Duane Morris tradition.
Duane Morris actively participates in diversity job fairs, including the MCCA/Vault Diversity Career Fair, the Philadelphia Area Minority Job Fair, the Southeastern Minority Job Fair and the Hispanic National Bar Association Annual Job Fair Program, for which it has been a major sponsor. The firm interviews at historically black law schools, including Howard University, Texas Southern University, Southern University and North Carolina Central University.
Duane Morris uses women- and/or minority-owned executive search/recruiting firms in connection with lateral hires. Our efforts at improving recruitment of diverse attorneys were also noted by the Vault/MCCA Guide to Law Firm Diversity Programs, which singled out Duane Morris for being one of "only a handful of firms that engage minority- and/or women-owned search firms for lateral recruitment."
Duane Morris LLP Supplier Diversity Policy
It is the policy of Duane Morris LLP that in acquiring goods and services we maintain an environment that promotes, increases and improves the quality of the overall participation of a widely diverse group of business enterprises. Duane Morris is committed to identifying diverse suppliers that can add value to our supply chain and provide an opportunity to increase our value to our clients. The Executive Committee of Duane Morris has assigned to the Chief Diversity Officer the responsibility for executive advocacy, support and oversight of the Supplier Diversity Initiative.
The Chief Operating Officer of Duane Morris shall select a Supplier Diversity Leader to manage and oversee this initiative for Duane Morris. The Supplier Diversity Leader shall develop a Supplier Diversity Initiative that includes goals, strategies, monitoring and plan for implementation.
The Supplier Diversity Leader and the Chief Diversity Officer shall jointly identify and establish annual supplier diversity goals. Either of them and/or their designee(s) shall represent Duane Morris externally with supplier diversity organizations and networks; serve as a recruiter for diverse suppliers and assist Duane Morris staff with achieving annual supplier diversity goals.
Duane Morris LLP Supplier Diversity Plan
Step I. Publish the Diversity Policy
The firm's approved Supplier Diversity policy has been posted on the firm intranet and on www.duanemorris.com.
Step II. Develop the firm's Supplier Diversity Plan
- Definition – the Supplier Diversity Plan is the action plan which describes the sequence of steps through which vendor information passes from the time a new vendor is created until a decision is reached as to inclusion or exclusion in the diverse vendor data base. The firm is tracking and documenting Tier I (Direct Spend) Purchases from certified vendors meeting the criteria listed in 3. Components.
- Purpose – the Plan will serve as a guide that defines the Firm's Supplier Diversity goals and steps necessary to achieve those goals. It is a dynamic tool and will be revised and expanded periodically.
- Components – the Firm will count as diverse any vendor which is certified to be one or more of the following:
Minority-Owned (MBE);
Woman-Owned (WBE);
Disabled-Owned (DBE);
Veteran-Owned (VOB);
Service Disabled Veteran-Owned (SDVOB);
Small Disadvantaged-Owned (SDB);
Lesbian, Gay, Transgender, Bisexual-Owned (LGTB);
HUBZone Small Business.
Further information about each category is listed on the Supplier Classification Form, which is provided to new vendors for the purpose of collecting diverse information.
Any firm that completes and signs the Classification Form (or provides their own form) will be listed as Diverse in subsequent purchasing reports. - Implementation – Upon notice of creation of a new vendor, the Supplier Diversity Leader will send an Introductory Letter, blank Classification Form and business reply envelope to the vendor address listed with the account.
The Supplier Diversity Leader will compile the results of returned, completed Classification Forms and add relevant information to the vendor's profile.
In the event that Classification Forms are not returned within three weeks, a reminder will be sent. - Goals – the goals of the program, in terms of recognized Diverse Suppliers as a percentage of the total dollars spent for goods and services, will be determined and revised by the Supplier Diversity Committee. Our goal in 2011 is a diverse spend of Tier I (direct purchases) that exceeds 8.48%.
- Reporting – reports will be provided upon request by the Supplier Diversity Leader for any time periods required, i.e. year to year, quarter by quarter, year to date, etc.
These reports contain graphs which detail the percentage of diverse spending by categories, diverse spending as a percentage of the whole and by categories within the Minority-Owned umbrella. See below. - Training – the Supplier Diversity Leader will offer training upon request to attorneys and staff that express an interest in assisting with the Supplier Diversity Program.
- Oversight – Oversight for the Supplier Diversity Plan is the responsibility of the Supplier Diversity Leader, reporting to the Director of Office Services, the Chief Operating Officer and the Chief Diversity Officer.
- Promotion – A plan for promoting the Supplier Diversity Program internally and externally will be developed by the Supplier Diversity Committee.