Black In-House Counsel’s 2022 annual report features McGuireWoods as a key ally in client Dominion Energy’s Legal Diversity Plan, which aims to give consistent and meaningful work to diverse lawyers in large firms and diverse-owned law firms.
“It’s the right thing to do and it really is in alignment with the shared core values of our respective organizations,” said partner Joe Reid, who discussed how McGuireWoods is working to advance their shared diversity goals. Reid said the leadership of Dominion Energy — including senior vice president, general counsel and chief compliance officer Carlos Brown — “is fundamentally committed to these principles and the leadership of our law firm is likewise committed.”
BIHC’s annual report highlights the work of corporate legal departments and Am Law 100 law firms that are advocating for diversity, equity and inclusion in the legal profession. The report devotes extensive coverage to Dominion Energy’s efforts under the leadership of Brown. Reid said McGuireWoods and Dominion Energy agree that diverse teams are better teams and that numbers alone are not an adequate measure of progress.
“This is about creating pipelines and opportunities,” said Reid, an accomplished litigator who has represented Dominion Energy — a client since 1988 — in numerous matters. “It absolutely has to be a long-term plan, not short term, because it takes a lot of work and a lot of time to be successful in creating more DEI.”
The BIHC report also spotlights McGuireWoods lawyers who handle Dominion Energy’s legal matters, including Richmond office managing partner Michael Herring and partners Jacquelyn Stone and Jontille Ray; Washington, D.C., partner Makram Jaber; and Richmond associate April Jones.
“We value our longstanding relationship with Dominion Energy and we are proud to work together to advance our shared commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion in the legal profession,” said McGuireWoods Chairman Jonathan Harmon.