The 3 Pillars of our Commitment
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Our Mission
Our Vision
Our Core
To position all of our talent to win – individually, collectively, and for our clients.
To markedly advance the march toward a truly equitable legal profession by becoming the preferred firm and national standard of equity and inclusion for all talent regardless of background.
• We strive to reflect the clients we serve and the communities in which we have the privilege to practice law.
• We define, promote, and embrace diversity broadly to foster authentic inclusion.
• Our commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion permeates every aspect of how we conduct business.
• We are responsible stewards of our resources, taking care to use our influence, brand, purchasing power, and thought leadership to drive diversity, equity and inclusion growth outside the walls of our firm.
• We proactively seek out and pursue opportunities to better support, empower, and promote our talent.
• We continuously look for innovative solutions to remain effective, relevant, and in tune with our clients’ values and business objectives.
The Blueprint
It occurred to me in putting together this annual report that 2021 marked five years for me in this role as our firm diversity partner and five years since the decision was made by firm managing partner, Bob Grand, and the rest of firm leadership to build something transformative for Barnes & Thornburg on the diversity, equity and inclusion front. The goal (which we gladly share often) was and remains simple – to be better – not as it relates to our peers or certain market standards per se, but better than we were both literally and figuratively the day before.
Our mission, vision, core
LEtter from our DEI Leader
Dawn R. Rosemond,
Firm Diversity Partner
indeed achieve our vision of becoming the “the preferred firm and national standard of equity and inclusion for all talent regardless of background.” So as my team and I worked to capture our 2021 for you, it brought forward a lot of thoughts about how far we have come and made us look intently at the firm’s underpinning – at the blueprint for change we have cultivated.
By definition, a blueprint is a carefully crafted picture of what’s to come. The picture we painted five years ago was one of hope, healing, out-of-the-box investment, and uncomfortable accountability, relative to Team BT, our illustrious profession as a whole, and the 20 communities we have the privilege of serving across the country.
By The Numbers
• American Bar Association (ABA)
• American Immigration Council
• American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA)
• Anti-Defamation League (ADL)
• Corporate Counsel Women of Color (CCWC)
• Hispanic National Bar Association (HNBA)
• Joseph Maley Foundation
Female
Minority*
LBGTQ+
Veteran
Disabled
Firmwide
Attorneys
Partners
C-Suite Leadership
Department Chair
Management Committe
Office Managing Partners/
Partners In Charge
Office Administrators
New Hires
Summer Class
52.8%
31.4%
20.7%
30.0%
22.2%
19.0%
6.7%
93.3%
59.5%
68.4%
17.1%
14.6%
8.5%
20.0%
11.1%
9.5%
13.3%
26.7%
30.2%
44.7%
3.4%
3.4%
2.1%
10.0%
–
–
–
6.7%
2.9%
–
1.8%
1.4%
2.1%
10.0%
–
4.8%
–
–
1.5%
5.3%
1.1%
1.0%
1.2%
.0%
–
–
–
–
0.5%
–
2021 Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Annual Report
Robert T. Grand,
Firm Managing Partner
Year-over-year increase in belonging to and supporting entities, organizations and local and national affinity bar associations that are pushing for better in the way of diversity, equity and inclusion, such as:
1L Diversity Scholarship:
Chicago
Indianapolis
South Bend/Elkhart
• 2 Racial Justice Committees – Internal and External
• A 29.6% increase in our firms DEI budget, year-over-year
Since its inception in 2020, the Barnes & Thornburg Racial and Social Justice Foundation has been committed to promoting, advocating and affecting real change on the racial and social justice front, both in the communities we serve and nationally.
Racial and Social Justice Foundation
Funded entirely by Team BT, in its inaugural year the Foundation gave $50,000 grants to 4 non-profits in our Atlanta, Indianapolis, Los Angeles, and Minneapolis markets, dedicated to ending racism and social inequality. Last year, due to the continued commitment and investment in real change by Team BT, the Foundation was able to give $50,000 grants to 6 deserving nonprofits in our Chicago, Fort Wayne, Michigan, New York, Raleigh and Washington, D.C., markets. We are just getting started.
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Episodes
The Freedom Forum with Angela B. Freeman
The Parity Podcast with Deborah Pollack-Milgate and co-host, Cathy Nestrick
Showcasing Our DEI Commitment
Launched and Implemented Firmwide Talent Engagement Effort in Collaboration with Consulting Firm, 15five
Launched NEW DEI Onboarding Resource To Acclimate All Teammates To Our Unwavering Commitment From Day One
Check it Out!
15five briefings
internal briefings
coaching sessions
response rate out of the gate
7
43
37
88.6%
Partnered with National DEI Consultant: White Men As Full Diversity Partners for Firmwide DEI Education
click logo to visit webpage
Months
3
Learning Labs
6
Continued Alignment and Evolution of DEI Initiatives and Firmwide Strategic Plan
Developed Catalog of DEI Training Resources, Housed within LegalMind, the Firm’s Learning Management System, To Make DEI Training and Education Accessible Throughout the Year, 24/7
To This End, The Firm Created and Launched a Resource Called “ ” Tracking The Engagement Of Diverse Professionals On Client Files and Holding All Accountable To Our Commitment To Fielding Diverse Teams.
My Matters
Personal and Organizational Commitment by our Firm Managing Partner Via LCLD " " pledge
Leaders at the Front
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Recognitions
Named a 2021 Compass Award Winner by LCLD
Recognized for "Tipping the Scales" toward gender parity by the Diversity & Flexibility Alliance 2021 New Partner Report for being one of only 67 law firms out of 200 to have new partner class with >= 50% women
Firm Diversity Partner honored as ADL Woman of Achievement award recipient
Corporate Counsel Women of Color, 2021 Next Gen Emerging Leader Award
Erika Weiss, Associate
Crain’s Chicago Business 2021 Notable Gen X Leaders in Law Recipients
Crain’s Chicago Business 2021 Notable Black Leaders and Executives List
Michael Carrillo, Chicago Office Managing Partner |
Barbara Dunn, Partner | Erika Powers, Partner
Lindsey D. G. Dates, Partner
Impressions
Social Posts
Engagements
278
319855
15790
(up 45.5%)
• Lambda Legal
• Law Firm Antiracism Alliance (LFAA)
• Leadership Council on Legal Diversity (LCLD)
• Minority Corporate Counsel Association (MCCA)
• National Asian Pacific American Bar Association (NAPABA)
• National Bar Association (NBA)
• National LGBT Bar Association
The Widespread and Lasting Impact of DEI
for Our Firm, Our Communities and Beyond
Per the 2021 MCCA Law Firm Diversity Survey, African-American/Black women lawyers in the profession continue to be at the bottom of most lists (e.g., 2.3% of all attorneys in the profession, 0.9% of partners, and 0.8% of equity partners). We are determined to tell a different story.
We partnered with national DEI consultant, Nextions LLC, to conduct a cultural assessment relative to the experience of our Black women lawyers and to present findings and recommendations.
Deliberate programming is now being built to ensure the retention and advancement of our Black/African-American women lawyers.
New/Expanded Offices Further Advancing Our Diverse Team
Most states have some sort of expungement law designed to help those with criminal records resulting from nonviolent offenses clear their records to promote their reintegration into society and leading productive lives. The problem is most of these expungement laws and processes are onerous, confusing and thus, unavailable to many – especially those from underrepresented communities. Enter Fresh Start Fridays – a program birthed from the passion of St. Joseph County (Indiana) Magistrate Judge Andre Gammage to help those less fortunate gain access to a better life by helping them clear their names. So Magistrate Gammage sent out a call to action to host, in essence, an expungement clinic on, you guessed it, a certain Friday to help individuals clear their criminal records of nonviolent offenses. The attorneys in our South Bend and Elkhart offices, through the leadership of partner, Tim Maher, answered. And the rest as is said, history and has been well, transformative. Take a look for yourself:
Helped nearly
2,000
Obtained
750+
expungements
Obtained
680+
waivers of license reinstatement fees
Launched Tailored to Thrive to collect and distribute interview-ready clothing, with a dose of mentoring, to high school students in underserved communities
Honored the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. with a continued Day of Service and a poignant call to action from our 2021 Camille B. Conway Diversity Award Honoree:
“To be honest, you know, I was struggling a bit with what to say, somebody that looks like me getting a Diversity Award but I thought about it and I remembered the words of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., who said, “‘In the end, we will remember not the words of our enemies but the silence of our friends.’”
The Camille B. Conway Diversity Award is given in recognition of the late Camille Conway, a Chicago partner, in appreciate of his contributions to diversity efforts in the firm. Annually, it is given to a teammate who goes above and beyond to foster a true inclusive and equitable work environment.
Check it out!
Barnes & Thornburg Signature DEI Magazine (#IAmBT) Summer Edition - “A Glimpse of Our Commitment, Office By Office”
Deliberately Cultivating Diversity Among Tomorrow’s Lawyers – Tomorrow’s Leaders
Phillip Arrington IV, Loyola University Chicago
Alexa M. Carpenter, Central State University
Natalie Frazier, Emory University
Esther Oluwapelumi Durosinmi, Loyola University Chicago
Jasleen Gill, University of California, Berkeley
Joined Diversity Lab’s Mansfield Rule 5th CoHort
Check it out!
Check it out!
Check it out!
1. A Lesson in Awareness, Empathy and Advocacy
2. Proud Pride
3. Some Heavy Lifting Among Friends
4. Effecting Change from the Bench
5. A Legacy of Change
Further outreach by two of our own incredible IP partners
Continued Elevation of Barnes & Thornburg’s Signature Professional Development Program:
376
participants
190
pairings
19%
increase YOY
5
Hosted
BTLaw Academy VISION Courses
6 Talent Resource Groups (TRGs)
REBRANDED | RELEVANT | REAL ADVOCACY
Click to expand
Kiara L. Butler, University of Wisconsin School of Law
Gabriela Ocampo Serrano, Indiana University, Robert H. McKinney School of Law
Alexander T. Gordon, Loyola University, Chicago School of Law
50%
50%
48%
BOSTON
NEW YORK
DELAWARE
Women & Minorities
The Major Taylor Mural, located on the east-facing wall of the Barnes & Thornburg building in Indianapolis, is the work of Chicago artist Shawn Michael Warren and Indy-based painter Boxx the Artist. It was the first project of the City of Indianapolis “Bicentennial Legends” series. The mural is a result of a partnership between the firm, the City of Indianapolis, the Arts Council of Indianapolis, and the Major Taylor Coalition. Spearheading the firm’s involvement were partners Heather Harris and Don Williams, and former chief of office services Debi Mitchell.
Marshall “Major” Taylor, who was born and raised in Indianapolis, was the U.S. sprint champion in 1899 and 1900 and the first African American world-champion professional cyclist. Ultimately, Major became known as a pioneer and role model for other athletes facing racial discrimination.
Read more!
Racial & Social Justice foundation
showcasing our commitment
by the numbers
recognitions
Lasting Impact
Diversity Matters Podcast
TALENT RESOURCE GROUPS
• Budgeted for 4 DAPP (Diversity Attorney Pipeline Program) Intern Sponsorships: Chicago, Dallas, Indianapolis, Los Angeles
BOARD MEMBERS:
Connie Lahn (President)
Allen Baum
Michael Carrillo
Roscoe Howard
EX OFFICIO:
Robert T. Grand
Steven Merkel
Dawn R. Rosemond
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*For purposes of this annual report and unless otherwise defined, “minority” refers to all underrepresented racial and ethnic groups. And “diverse” means all categories noted above.
All partner promotions
New partners
up 2.2%
up 1.4%
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“Of what use is a dream if not a blueprint for courageous action.”
– Adam West“
“We’ve got to believe in our beautiful impossible blueprints.”
– Doris Lessing
“Begin each day with the blueprint of [your] deepest values firmly in mind then when challenges come, make decisions based on those values.” –Stephen Covey
Through Education, Training and Programming
(53.5% diverse)
(55.6% diverse)
3
• Firmwide DEI Committee has 42 members, including attorneys, legal and business professionals
(From Left to Right)
Firm Diversity Partner honored as ADL Woman of Achievement award recipient
Firm Nominated Client Earns a Spot on Corporate Counsel’s 2021 In-House Trailblazers
St. Joseph County Judge, Magistrate Andre Gammage
Timothy J. Maher, Partner
Held clinics in 2021
4
(Grand Rapids, Detroit-Metro and Ann Arbor)
"When we listen and celebrate what is both common and different, we become a wiser, more inclusive, and better organization."
Award-winning “I Am Barnes & Thornburg” Campaign -- Continuing to Transform Our Culture for the Better
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2022 © All Rights Reserved
Co-Chairs DEI Committee
Leveraging Social Media to Tell Our Story and Grow Community
,
The thinking is that if we stay focused in this regard – on the only thing we have the true power to control – that we will
From things like launching a Prelaw Scholars Program to remove some of the barriers preventing students from underrepresented communities
from even going to law school, funding a fourth 1L Diversity Scholarship – this time in our Los Angeles market – to create more opportunities for law students of color to begin their careers with us, and contracting with a national DEI consultant to help us better understand and tackle the unique and oft-overlooked challenges faced by Black-women attorneys, we are taking real action. In addition, grants made by the firm’s Racial and Social Justice Foundation increased in 2021 by 50 percent, enabling us to empower six nonprofits dedicated to ending racism and social injustice.
It is hopefully evident that the ground upon which our commitment to change is built is solid and powering real change in 2021 and beyond. More than anything, the hope is that from the substance of this annual report (and so many other efforts), you to glean that our commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion (i.e., our blueprint for change) is authentic. The full manifestation of the picture of better we crafted has yet to be realized. We have continued clear vision though. And we will not stop. So it’s only a matter of time. Enjoy!
A majority of the images displayed throughout the following pages are taken from our actual blueprints, of our 20 amazing spaces across the country, inclusive of our iconic flagship building in downtown Indianapolis.
“Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter.”
- Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
The Major taylor mural
Firmwide
Attorneys
Partners
C-Suite Leadership
Department Chair
Management Committe
Office Managing Partners/
Partners In Charge
Office Administrators
New Hires
Summer Class
Firmwide
Attorneys
Partners
C-Suite Leadership
Department Chair
Management Committe
Office Managing Partners/
Partners In Charge
Office Administrators
New Hires
Summer Class
Firmwide
Attorneys
Partners
C-Suite Leadership
Department Chair
Management Committe
Office Managing Partners/
Partners In Charge
Office Administrators
New Hires
Summer Class
Firmwide
Attorneys
Partners
C-Suite Leadership
Department Chair
Management Committe
Office Managing Partners/
Partners In Charge
Office Administrators
New Hires
Summer Class
Lets just talk it out
Expansive dialogue about the depth of DEI challenges
in 2021
Check it out!
Check it out!
Check it out!
CO-CHAIRS
Robert T. Grand
Dawn R. Rosemond
TALENT RESOURCE GROUP LEADS
BTAPA
Mark Kittaka
David Wong
BTBlack
Michael Battle
Brittney Lee
Melanie Mawema
A. Elizabeth Underwood
BTLatinx
Ladene Mendoza
Katrina Thompson
BTParents
Jennifer Borchelt
Sean Phipps
BTPride
Amber Bollman
Brian Jarman
BTWomen
Denise Lazar
STANDING/EX OFFICIO POSITIONS
Chief Human Resources Officer
(Monica Crain)
Chief Integration Officer
(Debbie Usher)
Chief Legal Recruiting Officer
(Jesse Reeves)
Chief Legal Talent Officer
(Savannah Robinson)
Chief Operating Officer
(Steven Merkel)
DEI Director
(Kelly Atkinson)
Director of Law School Programs (Sarah Evenson)
General Counsel
(Karoline Jackson)
Law Student Recruiting Chair
(William Padgett)
Legal Recruiting Specialist
(Christine Hollis*)
Racial Justice Committee – External (Heather Harris)
Racial Justice Committee – Internal (Tom Hanson)
VOLUNTEER OFFICE REPRESENTATIVES
Laing Akers
(Columbus)
Christina Baugh
(Atlanta)
Lauren Box
(Indianapolis)
Mike Carrillo
(Chicago)
Tejas Shah
(Chicago)
Juanita DeLoach
(Dallas)
Michael Durham
(South Bend/Elkhart)
Dominique Gallacher
(New York)
Autumn Gear
(Minneapolis)
Thomas Hanson
(Delaware)
Aisha Hasan
(Raleigh)
Salvador LaViña
(Los Angeles)
Michelle Mikol
(Washington, D.C.)
Allison Rego
(San Diego)
Erika Weiss
(Michigan)
2020-2021 Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee
2021 DEI Committee
Check it Out!
Check it Out!
John T.L. Koenig,
Atlanta Office Managing Partner
Picture of John’s wife and son, referenced in his remarks
*No longer with the firm
*No longer with the firm
(up 46.3%)
,
(up 46.3%)
,