Nixon Peabody Diversity Update
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Nixon Peabody Diversity Update November 2007 Nixon Peabody is HRC Inside this issue: National Dinner sponsor Laura Whitbeck represents Nixon Peabody on panel; Corning wins leadership award 2 Again this year, Nixon Peabody purchased a table at the 11th Annual The grades are in and Human Rights Campaign (HRC) National Dinner on October 6, 2007 at Nixon Peabody tops the list 3 the Washington Convention Center. For its sponsorship, the firm received Nixon Peabody wins recognition in the program and on the television screens at the event. Top Five Spectrum Award 3 Affinity group retreat set Members of the firm who attended the event included Randall Kelly, for November 1 and 2 4 Michael Reardon, Monica Sussman, all partners in the Washington DC McKnight scholarship office; Christine Brosonski, a paralegal in Washington DC; Bill Baldwin, an recipients update 5 associate in Washington DC; and Bill Kelly, a partner in the Boston office. Firm sponsors MCCA Dinner 6 The firm also invited four clients and a local District of Columbia official. Nixon Peabody sponsors Spirit of Justice Award annual dinner 7 “All of our guests were inspired by the positive messages of the evening. It was Pride in Our Work event an evening of celebration, and everyone had an enjoyable time,” Randy said. provides networking opportunities 8 Women of Color in New York City 8 At the event, the HRC recognized the efforts of Washington’s Gay and Nixon Peabody contributes to Lesbian Liaison Unit (GLLU). Additionally, Matthew Broderick, the 12th annual SAGE dinner 9 award-winning actor; Sheryl Swoopes, a WNBA player with the Houston Diversity remains a top focus Comets; and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi were honored—and spoke. in recruiting efforts 10 Approximately 3,000 people attended the sold-out dinner, according to Nixon Peabody is a Marin Services published reports. “It was a great opportunity for Nixon Peabody to show for Women dinner sponsor 11 its leadership in diversity efforts and to network with some of the largest Providence office named Best Place to Work 12 and most well-known corporations in the country,” Michael said. Nixon Peabody attends inner-city scholarship fund lunch 13 During this year’s dinner, transgender activists protested outside the event, as well as inside, because of controversy surrounding the then-pending continued on the next page . Employment Non-Discrimination Act. Printed on paper containing 100% post-consumer fiber and manufactured with wind power. Inside this issue continued: The Human Rights Campaign is America’s largest civil rights organization Susan Robfogel named first woman working to achieve gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender equality. By chair for George Eastman House 13 inspiring and engaging all Americans, HRC strives to end discrimination Laurie Miller recognized against GLBT citizens and realize a nation that achieves fundamental fair- for her work 14 ness and equality for all. Three Nixon Peabody women named Upstate New York Super Lawyers 14 Congratulations to Grace Wu 14 Stacie Boeniger Collier named Laura Whitbeck represents to Providence Business News’ 40 under Forty 15 Nixon Peabody on panel; Anita Pelletier selected for Up and Coming Award 15 Corning wins leadership award Anjali Chaturvedi speaks at South Asian Bar dinner 15 Laura Whitbeck, Nixon Peabody’s Library Resources manager, was a pan- Andrea Cohen joins elist at the annual Equality Leadership Conference held October 19 in BayBio Institute board 16 Rochester, New York. The Gay Alliance of Genesee Valley (GAGV) and the Cathy Fleming quoted in new book 16 Finger Lakes LGBT Workforce Alliance (FLLWA) sponsored the event. Laurie Miller’s new role garners national attention 16 At this year’s conference, Corning Inc. was awarded the 2007 Business Anita Pelletier’s article appears Leadership Award, which is given to a company that is recognized as a in Business Strategy 16 leader in the advancement of fair and equitable workplaces for LGBT Joe Ortego and Tracey Ehlers employees. Two representatives from Corning, including Debra Turner- write diversity article for Bailey, the company’s director of diversity, accepted the award, which is National Law Journal 17 presented annually. Nixon Peabody won the award at the 2006 Equality Kendal Tyre speaks at Congressional Black Caucus 17 Leadership Conference, and the firm congratulates Corning on its award and its commitment to the LGBT community. Susan John, a New York State Assembly member, received the 2007 Community Leadership Award. This individual recognition is given to someone who has “made a significant contribution to the greater Rochester area LGBT community,” according to the conference program. The daylong conference was held at the Rochester Riverside Convention Center. The conference included nine educational sessions, as well as a keynote address. Debra Turner-Bailey, Corning Inc.’s director of diversity, along with another company representative, accepted The workshop in which Laura was a participant was titled Learning from the 2007 Business Leadership Award, which as presented Each Other: Employee Resource Groups (ERGs) and Gay Straight Alliances by a representative from Eastman Kodak Company. (GSAs). It included panelists from Corning, Thomson West, Wilson Magnet High School and Nazareth College, as well as Nixon Peabody. 2 The 90-minute question-and-answer discussion focused on the similarities, challenges and obstacles between these two groups. Laura represented Nixon Peabody’s employee resource group. Nixon Peabody was a platinum-level sponsor of the conference, which was attended by several Nixon Peabody attorneys, representatives and guests. The grades are in and Nixon Peabody tops the list On October 10, Law Students Building a Better Legal Profession released a Diversity Report Card for the Washington DC area that placed Nixon Peabody on the honor role. The firm received a B+ from the group, which was the top grade awarded. The Diversity Report Card is based on a study that looked at all forms of diversity, including gen- der, race, ethnicity and sexual orientation, and ranked firms in relation to their peers. Nixon Peabody’s B+ was the highest score achieved. Howrey and WilmerHale, which earned Bs, closely followed Nixon Peabody. At the bottom of the list was Mayer Brown, Baker Botts, Kelley Drye and Gibson Dunn, which all received Fs. The results are designed to help law students make more informed choices as they enter the legal profession. In addition to the report card, Law Students Building a Better Legal Profession looked at partnership diversity and pro bono participation in major markets throughout the country. The group consists of law students across the United States who are dedicated to helping law firms and lawyers maintain pride in the law, as both a business and a profession, according to the group’s Web site. Nixon Peabody wins Top Five Spectrum Award Nixon Peabody was recently honored in Albany as one of five top organizations supporting diver- sity. Andy Rose, office managing partner in Albany, accepted the award on behalf of the office. Dan Hurteau, a partner in Albany, Jena Rotheim, an Albany associate, and Robyn Churchill, the office administrator, also attended the event along with spouses and significant others. “Personally, I am very proud to be a part of a firm that is so diverse in the workplace. In the past, there have been many business dinners and events that I attended without my partner because of a lack of diversity and acceptance,” Robyn said. 3 The Capital Region Human Resource Association’s (CRHRA) 2007 Top Five Spectrum Award: A Celebration of Workplace Diversity recognizes local businesses for promoting diversity in the workplace. In addition to Nixon Peabody, the other winners included the Capital District YMCA, Homeless and Travelers Aid Society, Hudson Valley Community College and Merrill Lynch. “We salute these forward-thinking organizations for their achievements in promoting staff diversity at all levels, fostering inclusive policies throughout their organizations, and securing top management support in work-place diversity efforts,” according to an article in the CRHRA’s monthly newsletter. A recognition reception and dinner was held Oct. 12 at The Desmond Hotel in Albany. The keynote speaker was Albany County District Attorney David Soares; the honorary guest speaker was Wes Holloway, vice president of diversity for Golub Corporation; and the master of cere- monies was Jim Kambrich, co-anchor of WNYT’s Newschannel 13 Live at 5, 6 and 11. Affinity group retreat set for November 1 and 2 The Diversity Action Committee (DAC) is sponsoring an affinity group retreat, Nixon Peabody’s Diverse Lawyers’ Leadership Conference, in November. Approximately 70 lawyers expressed an interest in attending, according to Maggie Clemens, a member of the DAC. Susan Manch, a partner at Shannon & Manch, is structuring the two-day leadership conference to maximize participation. “Our goal is to provide the opportunity to get everyone together to strengthen networking and share leadership strategies. The meeting also gives the various affinity groups the opportunity to, both together and within their groups, share knowledge and ideas for increasing participation and effectiveness,” she said. The conference will focus on two overarching topics: • Exercising and Increasing Influence • Building a Foundation for Business Development Smaller working discussion groups of approximately eight to 10 lawyers will focus on sub-issues with- in the two main topics. “The retreat