McGuireWoods LLP has been recognized by Equality Illinois as one of the state’s leading law firms in providing a welcoming and fair work environment for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender employees, and for engaging with the LGBT community. This is the fourth year in a row that McGuireWoods’ diversity and inclusion efforts have been recognized by Illinois’ largest LGBT civil rights organization.
In its 2014 “Raising the Bar” report, Equality Illinois ranked McGuireWoods among 41 firms that are leading the way in LGBT workplace equality and community engagement. Diane Pamela Wood, the chief judge of the 7thU.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, addressed members of the firms at the Equality Illinois Raising the Bar Recognition Breakfast Aug. 13 at the Hyatt Regency Chicago.
The findings in the “Raising the Bar” report are based on a survey of Illinois law firms. For the third year in a row, all of the firms that responded to the survey have equal employment opportunity or non-discrimination policies that expressly include sexual orientation. All of the large and mid-size firms that responded include gender identity/gender expression in those policies.
“McGuireWoods strives to be a leader in legal diversity in Illinois and all of the communities where we practice law,” said Amy Manning, managing partner of McGuireWoods’ Chicago office. “We believe our commitment to diversity and inclusion substantially benefits our lawyers, staff and clients. Because of this commitment, the firm contributes to organizations like Equality Illinois, supports the LGBT Lawyers Network within our firm, and hosts retreats for our LGBT lawyers where we can focus on important issues related to inclusiveness and equality.”
“One of McGuireWoods’ most important core values is our commitment to diversity within our law firm and in the legal profession generally,” said McGuireWoods partner Michael W. Graff Jr., a member of the firm’s Diversity and Inclusion Committee and chair of the firm’s LGBT lawyer network. “We support organizations like Equality Illinois in furthering those objectives.”