There are two perspectives for me with regards to sponsorship, firstly as a prior beneficiary of sponsorship and secondly, as someone who is now in a position to pass it on and sponsor others.
In startups and small private companies, promoting diversity doesn’t require a formal policy or structure. Diversity initiatives can take inspiration from the fluid, exciting and out-of-the-box thinking prevalent in these types of companies.
There has been a fair amount of experimentation and implementation initiatives following former Sara Lee GC Rick Palmore’s call to action in 2004, which led to the formation of the Leadership Council on Legal Diversity (LCLD), made up of GCs in the Fortune 500 and managing partners of major law firms.
Continue reading “Michele Mayes, general counsel, New York Public Library”
I have responsibility for global diversity for Mastercard. Our chief diversity officer reports to me, along with a team of four professionals. The origin of that comes straight from the top – Ajay Banga, our CEO, believes diversity should be the responsibility of someone with a global business leadership role.
Business wins when we welcome and embrace diverse backgrounds and perspectives.
When I was at Accenture, I managed all of our global outside counsel spend as well as our diversity and inclusion legal program. I love big law and NAMWOLF is not a play against big law.
BMO has a long history as a champion of diversity and inclusion – it’s a core value and a key priority for us. This includes diversity of perspectives, experiences, abilities, cultures and gender.
Continue reading “Caroline Tsai, deputy general counsel, BMO”
I think it’s absolutely critical for a company to embrace diversity and inclusion. At Salesforce, we operate in a very competitive industry – one that is evolving every day and where innovation isn’t a ‘nice-to-have’, but a business imperative.
To assemble an informed and representative perspective of the legal sector, our quantitative research went beyond considering purely the most senior legal figures in the United States.
It’s no secret that the United States takes diversity very seriously. Since the advent of the Bill of Rights – which in 1789 laid bare the basic personal freedoms, civil liberties and protections guaranteed by the Constitution – diversity and inclusion has been an evolving process.
In terms of gender equality, the point when women have children is still where the biggest drop off occurs. This is, however, not the only point, according to Vodafone Americas GC, Megan Doberneck.
One trend which emerged in the research conducted to support this report, was a much more serious focus on sponsorship and mentoring in the US compared with the UK and Europe.
Across the legal sector – from the partner level in private firms and general counsel in major corporates, right through to new recruits fresh out of law school – research shows that there remains barriers to entering and progressing through the sector for certain groups and demographics.
Kirkland & Ellis has returned to Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer for another finance recruit, taking Jonathan Birks.
US firm Jones Day has promoted five to partner in London as part of a 47-strong promotions round, while New York outfit Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft elected two in the City as part of a 10-strong cohort. Continue reading “US partner promotions: Cadwalader adds two as Jones Day promotes five partners in the City”
Partners at Ashurst have voted in favour of a single yearly profit payment to replace quarterly distributions. Continue reading “‘Overwhelming support’: Ashurst votes for annual profit payouts”
King & Wood Mallesons (KWM) has confirmed that today (22 December) its European arm has filed a Notice of Intention to Appoint Administrators with the court. Continue reading “KWM Europe files notice of intention to appoint administrators”
Sullivan & Cromwell, Cravath, Swaine & Moore, Linklaters and Hengeler Mueller have won roles on another potential mega merger, between US and German oil and gas giants Praxair and Linde.
Continue reading “Linklaters joins SullCrom and Cravath on $65bn Linde and Praxair megadeal”
City firm Macfarlanes has made a rare triple lateral hire with three partners from King & Wood Mallesons‘ (KWM) European practice. The firm is taking on Tom Usher, Cameron Firth and Christoph Humpe as partners, and will also take on KWM’s former European senior partner Stephen Kon as a consultant. Continue reading “KWM competition trio defects to Macfarlanes in rare lateral play by City thoroughbred”
Dentons client The Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) has won a battle over interest rate swaps mis-selling against Bird & Bird client Property Alliance Group. Continue reading “Victory for Dentons as judge throws out £30m PAG claim against RBS”
