In order for diversity to mean something, to be more than a superficial catch phrase, it must be incorporated into a firm's culture. Diversity must be put “in action” and made a priority. A firm must be committed not only to the members who are racially, ethnically or gender-diverse, but also to appreciate, celebrate, support and encourage the various thoughts, ideas and values that underlie those differences.
We are proud of our efforts to increase and strengthen the diversity of our lawyers and staff. Through the establishment of a firmwide Diversity Council, several Affinity Groups, local office Diversity Committees, mentoring programs and other diversity-related programs and initiatives, the firm has put diversity in action and has committed itself to being a leader with regard to inclusive policies for all firm employees.
Diversity Council
In 2006, the firm appointed Paul Thomas to the dual positions of Diversity Partner and Chief Diversity Officer. In doing so, we committed one of our partners, who is one of the most experienced diversity lawyers in the country, to direct the firm’s diversity efforts on a full time basis.
The firm also created a Diversity Council to work with Paul to oversee our numerous diversity initiatives and programs, provide support for diversity-related charitable and community organizations, and explore avenues for increasing diversity among suppliers and business partners. As evidence of our commitment to diversity at all levels of the firm, the 13-member Diversity Council includes both a staff member and an associate as full participating members, as well as our Managing Partner, the Chair of our Directors Committee, each Affinity Group Leader, and a local office Diversity Committee representative.
Affinity Groups
Through the firm’s seven Affinity Groups, our diverse lawyers and staff are able to address the distinct challenges and opportunities that arise as a result of our differences. By promoting and encouraging members, the Affinity Groups help to sustain an environment that is inclusive and supportive, which fosters both personal and professional success. Our Affinity Groups have helped to distinguish Holland & Knight through the visibility and opportunity extended to members.
The firm’s Affinity Groups are as follows:
- African American Affinity Group
- Asian/Pacific Islander Affinity Group
- Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender (GLBT) Affinity Group
- Gay, Lesbian Or Bisexual Employees (GLOBE) Affinity Group
- Hispanic Affinity Group
- Native American Affinity Group
- Women’s Initiative
The African American Affinity Group promotes, supports and encourages the firm’s African American attorneys by helping to maintain an environment that is inclusive, challenging and supportive in order to maximize both personal and career success. The African American Affinity Group supports an in-house mentoring program, and is dedicated to assisting the firm with its goal of recruiting, promoting and retaining top minority attorneys. Contact: Tiffani Lee (tiffani.lee@hklaw.com)
The Asian/Pacific Islander (API) Affinity Group uses regularly-scheduled meetings and its own email distribution list as a means of communication to keep the firm’s API attorneys informed of important developments, opportunities for leadership and professional development. Its goal is to maintain a strong and productive network among our API attorneys, and to assist the firm with its goal of recruiting, promoting and retaining top minority attorneys. Contact: Jane Tam (jane.tam@hklaw.com)
The Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender (GLBT) Affinity Group promotes equal opportunity and professional development for the firm’s GLBT lawyers. Through its representation on the firm’s Diversity Council, the Group works to ensure that Holland & Knight remains a leader among law firms with regard to its GLBT-friendly policies and initiatives. Externally, members of the GLBT Group, in concert with the firm’s Community Services Team, have spearheaded pro bono “impact” litigation involving GLBT asylum issues and U.S. laws severely limiting the ability of persons with HIV-AIDS to travel to the United States. Contact: Michael Manthei, co-chair (michael.manthei@hklaw.com); Dianne Phillips, co-chair (dianne.phillips@hklaw.com)
Gay, Lesbian Or Bisexual Employees (GLOBE) Affinity Group is a forum for staff to offer mutual support and discuss issues specific to persons of varying sexual orientations. It operates primarily by in-office meetings, telephone conferences and videoconferences and is open to all employees at Holland & Knight, irrespective of their sexual orientation. The GLOBE hosts events around the firm on issues of importance to the GLBT community. Examples include a videoconference celebrating National Coming Out Day; a lecture focused on recent gay asylum cases handled by the firm; and a seminar which detailed practical ways gay and lesbian couples and their families can take steps to ensure that their partners and families are protected, in the context of both estate planning and family law. Contact: Paul Thomas (paul.thomas@hklaw.com)
The Hispanic Affinity Group’s goal is to recruit, retain, promote, support, encourage and empower the firm’s Hispanic attorneys. Through its representation on the firm’s Diversity Council, the Group works to ensure that Holland & Knight's diversity objectives are meaningfully represented and achieved by the firm's Hispanic attorneys. Among the major law firms in the United States, Holland & Knight is a leader in recruiting and retaining Hispanic lawyers. The Group seeks to create and sustain an environment that is inclusive, challenging and supportive in order to maximize both personal and career success for its Hispanic attorneys. Contact: Jorge Hernandez Torano (jorge.hernandez-torano@hklaw.com)
The Women’s Initiative strives to help women advance professionally not only within the firm, but also within our communities. The oldest of our diversity initiatives, which began in the mid-1990s as an internal forum for women attorneys to voice their perspectives on creating a successful working environment, the Women's Initiative has become a respected and emulated program. This initiative helps our women partners and associates increase new client generation and expand relationships with existing clients and contacts, many of whom are also women. Contact: Judy Mercier, chair (judy.mercier@hklaw.com)
The Rising Stars Program, an outgrowth of the Women's Initiative, is a leadership training program dedicated to improving opportunities for the firm's women overall. The Rising Stars are immersed in a formal leadership and marketing program for a year, followed by a continued commitment to support new participants and organize the group as a resource for clients. The Rising Stars program has received numerous accolades, including being recognized as a "Best Practice" by a number of groups and organizations dedicated to the advancement of women in the legal profession and business.
Local Office Diversity Committees
Our diversity activities stretch throughout the firm. Each of our U.S. offices has a standing Diversity Committee which is composed of both lawyers and staff. The Committees devise and implement programs and community outreach unique to their locations. The leaders of our local Diversity Committees meet regularly with the Diversity Partner to discuss issues and share information on their various events, sponsorships and “best practices.”