WilmerHale Becomes Visionary National Legal Partner of the National Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce
The National Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce (NGLCC) is excited to announce that global law firm Wilmer Cutler Pickering Hale and Dorr LLP (WilmerHale) has joined the National Legal Partnership at the Visionary Level. This partnership indicates their commitment to support NGLCC and its mission to promote business efforts and direct links between lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) business owners, corporations and government.
“WilmerHale is a global leader within the legal industry that stands at the forefront of diversity and inclusion initiatives,” said Justin Nelson, NGLCC Co-Founder and President. “We are thrilled to welcome WilmerHale as a Visionary National Legal Partner because we know they will set the bar for establishing supplier diversity in the legal industry.”
The National Legal Partnership began in 2010 as a response to the growing need for procurement resources to be tailored to the legal industry. With supplier diversity now serving as scored component of the Human Rights Campaign’s (HRC) Corporate Equality Index under external engagement, the NGLCC aids WilmerHale and more than 140 other partner corporations and firms in increasing or maintaining their CEI scores through their commitments to the LGBT business community.
“Our partnership with NGLCC deepens our network within the LGBT business community and continues to foster a diverse workforce that reflects the diversity of our clients and the communities in which we practice, ” said Jonathan Shapiro, former partner and co-chair of the firm’s Diversity Committee.
WilmerHale has long been a leader in efforts to diversify the legal profession. Most recently, the Corporate Equality Index, an annual survey administered by the HRC, identified WilmerHale as a 2013 best place to work for lesbian, gay bisexual and transgender equality. This is the fifth consecutive year that the firm has earned a 100 percent rating.
WilmerHale joins Kaye Scholer LLP as a Visionary Level partner. In addition to the Visionary Partners, the National Legal Partnership is comprised of Galloway, Thompson, Burr and Smith, a PLC; Debevoise & Plimpton LLP; and Murtha Cullina LLP.