COMMITMENT TO DIVERSITY: “Beyond Mere Words”
With clients in virtually every major industrial country, Kenyon & Kenyon LLP knows the value, power and importance of recruiting and retaining professional men and women from social, economic, and cultural backgrounds that reflect a population as diverse as the clients whom we serve and the communities in which we work and live. Kenyon is strongly committed to recruiting, mentoring, training, retaining and promoting a diverse pool of highly talented attorneys and staff. Kenyon ranks as one of the most diverse firms in the nation according to the The American Lawyer's Diversity Scorecard. Managing Intellectual Property recognized Kenyon & Kenyon LLP with the Strength in Diversity Award in 2010 and 2011. Kenyon was also named as one of the top 100 Large Businesses in the United States focused on diversity by DiversityBusiness.com. During its long and storied history of excellence, the firm has always recognized, and continues to benefit from, the melding of different backgrounds and experiences. We believe that fostering and supporting a bias-free workplace and a culture of inclusion for all is only the beginning when it comes to diversity. We believe that by creating an environment in which everyone within our organization can feel comfortable to develop themselves to their fullest potential, and thus contribute fully to all areas of our practice and profession, our clients benefit directly – since this often translates into diverse, unique and creative perspectives on the legal challenges that our clients face and on our strategies to help address them.
NON-DISCRIMINATION POLICY: “The Foundation”
We believe that non-discrimination is the beginning, not the end, of the diversity issue. Kenyon is an equal opportunity employer that highly regards its historical leadership role in the legal profession and business community. We therefore proudly affirm our commitment to creating and maintaining an inclusive and diverse workplace that does not discriminate on the basis of race, religious affiliation, color, age, gender, sexual orientation, national origin, physical challenge, marital or family status.
DIVERSITY COMMITTEE: “The Team”
Kenyon has a Diversity Committee, chaired by partner Elizabeth Holland. The Committee is made up of attorneys, including women, minority and LGBT partners, and other professionals at various levels throughout the firm to ensure that its efforts receive the requisite support, which translates into creating and maintaining a barrier-free workplace and a culture of inclusiveness. The Diversity Committee works closely with the recruitment staff, the Associates Committee and a dedicated Director of Professional Development to identify, recruit, train, mentor and promote a diverse body of professionals at every level. The Committee also identifies and coordinates the firm’s participation in professional and community outreach programs designed to support and foster our diversity goals. Diversity Committee members regularly attend conferences and symposia on developments in furthering and fostering diversity efforts throughout the legal profession, such as the Annual Diversity Forum sponsored by the American Conference Institute, various bar associations and law schools. One or more Diversity Committee members sit on each of the firm’s major committees.
Diversity Committee Members
Elizabeth Holland, Chair
Michelle Carniaux
Robert V. Cerwinski
Steve J. Lee, Ph.D.
Michelle Mancino Marsh
Sheila Mortazavi
Maria Luisa Palmese
A. Antony Pfeffer
Marcia Sundeen
Huiya Wu
Whitney Remily
Patrice Jean
REPRESENTATIVE INITIATIVES IN DIVERSITY: “The Action”
Training/Mentoring Programs
- Firm-wide Affinity Groups, such as the Women’s Initiative, that sponsor social and educational events of interest to Group members
- A mentoring program within our Practice Group structure, wherein mentors (all partners trained in our diversity goals and mission) act as a sounding board for associates and staff regarding their diversity-related concerns and issues
- Diversity training programs for all employees, including the incorporation of diversity training into existing in-house legal training programs relating to a wider range of initiatives, such as effective communications skills, negotiation, team leadership and mentoring
- Firm-sponsored participation in conferences and symposia of particular interest to women, minority and LGBT attorneys
Minority Scholarships
Thurgood Marshall Scholarship Fund
Intellectual Property Law Education Scholarship
Minority Job Fair Participation
MCCA/VAULT Legal Diversity Job Fair – Sponsor
NEBLSA Annual Job Fair
Training and Mentoring
NYC Mentor Program – Mock trial program for NYC high school juniors and seniors
Community Outreach with Financial and/or Time Commitments
Harlem Children’s Zone/Annual Dinner
All Stars Project/Development School for Youth Program
National Action Council for Minorities
Asian American Legal Defense and Education
National Association of Women Judges
Youth Empowerment Mission
Jos. A. Forgione Development School for Youth/All Stars
Children Affected by AIDS Foundation
Adopt a Family
National Center for Missing and Exploited Children
Boys and Girls Clubs of America
Coalition for the Homeless
Thurgood Marshall Scholarship Fund
American Intellectual Property Law Education Foundation
Host Committee Sponsor of Annual ACLU Summer Associate Reception on LGBT and AIDS Initiatives
League for Hard of Hearing
Bar Associations and Affinity Organizations
Women’s Bar Association
National Association of Women Judges
National Bar Association
National Action Counsel for Minorities in Engineering
LeGal – the premier association of LGBT attorneys in New York
Asian American Bar Association of New York
Asian American Law Fund of New York
National Asian Pacific American Bar Association
Hispanic National Bar Association
Women in Licensing
Women in Technology International
Minority Corporate Counsel Association
Recognizing and Striving to Meet Outside Diversity Initiatives and Benchmark Progress
Kenyon has always been very proud of its ability to attract and retain some of the best talent in our field. We recognize that the best talent is necessarily drawn from a highly diverse population of law students and professionals. To continue to hire and retain the best talent, we must implement further specific policies that support the diversity requirements and objectives important to ourselves, our clients, our communities and our profession. To that end, and acknowledging that Kenyon's diversity commitment is and will always remain ongoing, the Diversity Committee has set up subcommittees to formulate and recommend policies to promote the goals of outside diversity initiatives such as:
The Statement of Diversity Principles formulated by the Association of the Bar of the City of New York.
The New York City Bar, Committee on Women in the Profession’s Best Practices for the Hiring, Training, Retention, and Advancement of Women Attorneys
The Empire State Pride Agenda’s Pride in the Workplace Best Practices to Support LGBT Employees, including Employee and Domestic Partner Benefits and working to score a favorable rating under the HRC Corporate Equality Index.
SELECT PRO BONO ACTIVITIES
PFLAG
In the Life Media (weekly syndicated television news program dedicated to issues of concern to the LGBT community)
Special Olympics, Inc.
Grameen Foundation (organization connected with Muhammad Yunus and the Grameen Bank, winners of the 2006 Nobel Peace Prize)
EMPLOYEE BENEFITS: “The Proof”
Emergency child care facilities
Domestic partnership benefits
Family leave policy
Part-time/flex-time work arrangements