Where Does the Buck Stop in Law Firm Diversity Efforts?
Corporate counsel and law firm leaders agree they are frustrated about the slow improvement in diversity efforts within the law firm world, but where that frustration should be directed is a different story. It was the two law firm representatives on the “Law Firms and Corporate Counsel” panel of the Pennsylvania Bar Association’s Minority Bar Committee second annual Diversity Summit who disagreed on where the buck stops. James J. Barnes, managing partner of the Pittsburgh office of Reed Smith, said partners need to be evaluated on how they mentor minority associates and have that evaluation affect their compensation. Gregory B. Williams, diversity committee chairman at Fox Rothschild, said “it’s all well and good” for partners to be evaluated on mentoring, but no firm will throw out a partner who is bringing in $5 million in business over diversity issues. Williams said the onus has to be on corporate clients to request certain minority attorneys for matters and make sure they are doi
