Out Leadership, the oldest and largest global coalition of companies working to improve LGBTQ+ equality, is delighted to welcome leading national law firm Baker Donelson as a new member company, representing the organization’s continued expansion into the legal sector.
We are delighted that Baker Donelson is joining our community of global firms that are committed to building diverse and inclusive workplaces,” said Todd Sears, CEO & Founder, Out Leadership.
The firm has been working on a multi-year Diversity & Inclusion (D&I) Compact for several years that continues their longstanding efforts to increase diversity, including LGBT attorneys, at all levels and remove barriers to advancement. Diversity and inclusion were identified as a strategic priority in 2019, leading to a Firm-wide D&I Cultural Audit. Using the results of the audit, Marcus M. Maples, chair of the D&I Compact Advisory Board, led a team to create the D&I Compact, setting goals that will cement the Firm as a leader in diversity within the legal field.
The D&I Compact sets forth several benchmarks to be achieved by 2025:
●20% diverse attorney
●10% diverse shareholders
●8% diverse equity shareholders
●10% diverse management team.
To achieve these goals, the D&I Compact outlines four areas of focus: (1) the implementation of new measurement and tracking tools, (2) developing sponsorship programs to support and advocate for diverse employees, (3) increasing focus on business training and execution for diverse employees, and (4) implementing a D&I recruitment plan.
Sears said: “Baker Donelson’s Diversity & Inclusion Compact, with its robust plans for increasing diversity within their attorneys, shareholders, and management, specifically their focus on removing barriers to advancement, shows an impressive commitment to the goals of diversity and inclusion. We look forward to working with Baker Donelson as they continue to implement this industry-leading plan.”
Noah Kressler, chair of Baker Donelson’s LGBTQ resource group BakerPride and a shareholder in the New Orleans office, said: “Out Leadership is doing tremendous work in LGBTQ+ inclusion and equality. Baker Donelson is exceptionally proud to be a part of this outstanding mission, and we are excited to be able to offer our attorneys and staff the many benefits of participating in Out Leadership’s programs.”
About Baker Donelson:
Baker Donelson is among the 70 largest law firms in the country, with more than 650 attorneys and public policy advisors representing more than 30 practice areas to serve a wide range of legal needs. Clients receive knowledgeable guidance from experienced, multi-disciplined industry and client service teams, all seamlessly connected across 21 offices in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia and Washington, D.C.
Baker Donelson is among the 70 largest law firms in the country, with more than 650 attorneys and public policy advisors representing more than 30 practice areas to serve a wide range of legal needs. Clients receive knowledgeable guidance from experienced, multi-disciplined industry and client service teams, all seamlessly connected across 21 offices in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia and Washington, D.C.
About Out Leadership:
Out Leadership is the oldest and largest global LGBTQ+ business advisory that partners with the world’s most influential companies to build business opportunities, cultivate talent, and drive LGBTQ+ equality forward. We believe that
LGBTQ+ inclusion positively impacts business results, and that including LGBTQ+ people at the most senior level of executive leadership builds business. We call this idea Return on Equality™. Comprised of more than 80 global member organizations and dedicated to cross-industry collaboration, Out Leadership is a certified B Corporation. Out Leadership convenes CEOs, business leaders and allies at exclusive invitation only events across 4 continents. Out Leadership also operates three talent initiatives: Quorum, which aims to increase LGBTQ+ representation on corporate boards; OutNEXT, the first global talent development program for emerging LGBTQ+ leaders; and OutWOMEN, connecting senior level LGBTQ+ women in business.
To learn more, please visit http://outleadership.com/