Bloomberg BNA Diversity & Inclusion Summit

Diversity and inclusion are essential to the growth and prosperity of any organization. Diversity of perspectives, experiences, cultures, genders, and age breeds innovation, while inclusion ensures that everyone has the opportunity to contribute to that success and that the diversity play is not just a tick box on a corporate score card. 

In 1999, Chief Legal Officers of about 500 major corporations signed a pledge to make immediate and meaningful improvement to diversify their workforce, yet some 16 years later, law firms and in-house groups have failed to live up to their words, despite strong efforts and best intentions: Although blacks, Latinos, Asian Americans and Native Americans constitute about a third of the U.S. population and a fifth of law school graduates, they make up fewer than 7 percent of law firm partners and 9 percent of general counsels of large corporations.

This fall, Big Law Business will convene a national conversation in New York and San Francisco connecting some of the most respected in-house and law firm leaders, as well as human resource personnel, to explore strategies for overcoming diversity and inclusion challenges at law firms and corporate legal groups.

Ellen Dwyer is speaking at this event. Her topic: "The Business Imperative for Diversity."