McDermott Receives Perfect Score From HRC Foundation as "Best Place to Work" for LGBT Firm Members For Fourth Consecutive Year
NEW YORK (September 14, 2009) — Global law firm McDermott Will & Emery was named one of the “Best Places to Work” in the United States for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) individuals by the Human Rights Campaign Foundation (HRC), the largest civil rights organization working to achieve LGBT equality. McDermott’s selection reflected the Firm’s 100 percent score on HRC’s Corporate Equality Index, which assesses six broad measures of organizational support for policies and practices that promote fairness and equality in the workplace for LGBT employees. The 100 percent score on HRC’s 2010 Corporate Equality Index marks the fourth consecutive year that McDermott received this highest rating.
"We are proud of our recognition from the Human Rights Campaign because it 
reflects McDermott's commitment as a leading advocate of equality for all, regardless of sexual orientation or gender expression and identity," stated Lisa A. Linsky, trial partner in McDermott’s New York City office. Ms. Linsky is McDermott’s first partner-in-charge of Firm-wide Diversity, and she created and chairs the Firm-wide LGBT Diversity Committee. She also is a member of the Firm's Pro Bono and Community Service Committee.
The 2010 Corporate Equality Index is a significant, objective measure of organizational commitment to LGBT employees. It ranks companies and other organizations on a scale of 0 to 100 percent for the extent and effectiveness of how they have implemented:
• Non-discrimination policies that include sexual orientation and gender identity or expression
• Diversity training that addresses issues of sexual orientation and gender expression and identity
• Employer-provided domestic partner and transgender-inclusive health insurance and other benefits, such as supplemental life insurance, adoption assistance and bereavement leave
• Employer-supported LGBT resource groups and councils
• Marketing and sponsorship to support LGBT-focused events or organizations
As Linsky explained in describing the evolution of the Firm’s top-rated activities, “In 2006, we revised our Firm Diversity Statement and EEO policy, which had already covered sexual orientation, to include gender identity. Gender expression was later added as a protected class under our policies. We then implemented the policy change and educated Firm attorneys and staff about the distinctions between gender expression and identity in our workplace diversity trainings,” she added.
Ms. Linsky has served as chair of the LGBT Diversity Committee since it was created in 2006. In her role as partner-in-charge of Firm-wide Diversity she will continue to work closely with the Firm’s chairman, the chairs of the Firm's Gender and Racial & Ethnic Diversity Committees, as well the Chief Operating Officer, Chief Marketing Officer, Director of Professional Development, Legal Recruiting Managers, partners and colleagues to further reinforce an inclusive, professional environment for the long-term benefits of all of McDermott's colleagues and clients.
McDermott Will & Emery’s commitment to diversity is founded on the belief that diversity is necessary to achieve excellence in all aspects of client service. The Firm is committed to a culture that values and nurtures diversity and appreciates its importance in attracting and retaining exceptional talent. To meet this commitment, McDermott has established diversity programs and practices which have helped the Firm to encourage a breadth of ideas, experiences, perspectives and insights that are necessary to meet the challenges of today's global economy.
