Commitment to Diversity
Recruiting, retaining and promoting
minority and women attorneys is
more than just “the right thing to do.”
Counsel to Market Leaders
Commitment to Diversity
Baker Hostetler has made a long-term commitment to incorporate diversity within our workforce and business strategies by recruiting, retaining and promoting women and minority attorneys at all levels. Our progress is demonstrated by our lawyer ranks which exceed the national average of women and minority attorney representation among large law firms as reported by NALP*. As of January 1, 2007, the Baker Hostetler partnership includes 8.6% minority lawyers and 19.6% women lawyers, while our associate ranks are comprised of 14.6% lawyers of color and 45.7% women lawyers.
Our commitment to diversity is internal to our lawyers and external to our clients and our communities. Whether a new associate or an experienced attorney, all benefit from our prior efforts, existing activities and future initiatives.
* Figures based on the November 2006 NALP (The Association for Legal Career Professionals) Directory of Legal Employers.
The Diversity Committee was established in 1994 and is chaired by an Executive Partner.
………. Established the Paul D. White Scholarship in 1997.
……… MCCA “Sager Award” Honorable Mention (Midwest Region 2006). ……… Held the first firm Minority Attorney Conference in 2000.
……… Ranked in the Top 20 for “Diversity for Minorities” in 2004, 2005 & 2006
Vault Guide to the Top 100 Law Firms.
……… For each of the last six years, 50 percent of the new hires were women and minorities.
……… More than $1.5 million in
scholarships and clerkships have been awarded by Baker Hostetler to minority law students.
Diversity Committee
Over 10 years ago, the firm instituted a Diversity Task Force, which has since evolved into a standing committee, currently chaired by Alec Wightman, one of the firm’s two Executive Partners. The Diversity Committee includes members of the Policy Committee, Office Managing Partners, Partners and Associates. Exemplifying the goal of true diversity, the committee includes minorities, non-minorities, men and women, lawyers and staff
members.
Diversity subcommittees focus on five key topics: Lateral Recruiting, Law School Recruiting/Paul D. White Scholarship, Minority Attorney Conference, Marketing and Retention.
Women’s Committee
Recognizing that women face distinctive challenges in the legal profession, in 2004 Baker Hostetler formed a separate Women’s Committee to provide recommendations to
management with respect to these challenges. Chair of the Committee is Lisa Pennington, Houston Office Managing Partner.
The Committee, which is comprised of attorneys from all our offices as well as
representation from Human Resources and Marketing, is divided into five subcommittees: Hiring/Retention, Social Inclusion, Work/Life Balance, Management/Leadership and Marketing.
Recruiting
Paul D. White Scholarship Program
In tribute to Paul D. White, the firm’s first minority partner and a pioneer for minorities in the legal profession, a scholarship for minority law students was instituted to provide them with valuable experience early in their careers. To honor his memory and to encourage law students to appreciate the efforts of those who have come before them, the Paul D. White Scholarship was established in 1997.
Awarded annually to law students of African-American, Hispanic, Asian-American, or American Indian descent, the scholarship includes a paid summer clerkship and a $6,000 (net) cash award. The firm has expended more than $1.5 million in scholarships and clerkships for minority law students since its inception.
We recognize that in order to serve the needs of our diverse client base, our lawyer
population needs to be equally diverse. It is because of these differences that we can bring a variety of perspectives and experiences together and provide creative solutions for the challenges our clients face.
For each of the last six years, half of Baker Hostetler’s new hires were women and minorities. Our ability to diversify our workforce is the result of many factors, including targeted recruiting of minorities and women at law schools and through lateral lawyer interviews, the Paul D. White Scholarship program, and active participation in minority job fairs and the appointment of minority and women lawyers to our Hiring Committees.
When I first applied to law firms to be a summer associate I was skeptical as to whether I would receive the individual attention to help foster my development as an attorney. I had heard all the rumors about "big firm“ lifestyle and how many large firms were the
equivalent of sweatshops. However, when I was selected as the Paul D. White scholar and began to work at Baker Hostetler, I quickly realized how unfounded the rumors were.
As a summer associate, the attorneys worked with me to develop my legal writing and research skills and gave me real projects for real clients. The firm’s open door policy allowed me to speak with partners and associates when I needed help on a project or ideas on how to approach a certain issue.
Having now returned to Baker as an associate, I am happy to be a part of a team that not only values the work I do for clients, but values my personal interests and spends a great amount of time fostering my skills as an advocate and as a civil servant.
Jack D. Patten, III
Training, Development and Retention
Attorneys succeed with training and personal and professional development opportunities. At Baker Hostetler, these opportunities begin early on in an associate’s career and continue through the partner level.
Associate Academy
Every first-year associate is invited to attend our Associate Academy within six months of joining the firm. From business development and communication skills to due diligence and pre-trial preparation, the Associate Academy provides targeted training for our first-year attorneys, while giving them the opportunity to meet and network with peers from other offices.
Mid-Level Training
During their third or fourth year, associates participate in a multiday program in conjunction with the firm’s practice group retreats. This advanced training focuses on the practice group and the industries it serves, to further develop the depth of knowledge and understanding associates have of the practice area they have chosen.
The 2007 Associate Academy class
Mentoring Program
The mentoring program matches first-year and lateral associates with a mentor who assists with training and development. Associates are advised of their progress on a regular basis which ensures they have the feedback they need to move forward in their careers. Evaluations are coupled with face-to-face discussions regarding professional development.
4th-Year Coaching Program
All associates are assigned a senior-level partner as a coach during their fourth year. The coach acts as a role model for enhancing professional development by passing on knowledge, skills and values and providing advice and counsel in improving the associate’s lawyer skills. Additionally the coach acts as a support person by helping to develop social contacts and community involvement during this year-long program.
Training, Development and Retention
Women Partners’ Retreat
Bringing together our women partners from around the country, the event includes sessions on the current status of the firm (with regard to recruiting and retaining women attorneys), personal marketing,
advancing to management and balancing work and family. As a result of the event, several of the firm’s offices held a “Rainmaking Tips for Women Lawyers” program, which included viewing the ABA's DVD on effective marketing for women lawyers and a panel discussion with women partners sharing their own business development techniques and stories.
Minority Attorney Conference
This event focuses on business development and lawyer retention. The conference serves to facilitate formal and informal discussions among minority lawyers, top firm management, clients and outside experts on strategies to increase recruitment, retention and promotion of minority lawyers.
Program Participation and Event Sponsorship
Our attorneys are encouraged to participate in various local, regional and national events and the firm looks for opportunities to sponsor programs whose goals match ours in advancing the case for minorities and women in leadership roles in the legal profession.Diversity Sponsorships
and Representation
Besides paying for lawyers’ membership dues in the American Bar Association and one national minority bar association, we have sponsored, and our lawyers have participated in, numerous activities hosted by these associations and other organizations on a local, regional and national level. These include, but are not limited to:
— ABA Women Rainmakers Annual & Fall meetings
— California Rural Legal Assistance, Inc.
— Charting Your Own Course Foundation (five years)
— Cleveland and Columbus Bar Associations (Minority Clerkship & Minority Vendor Programs)
— Colorado Hispanic Bar Association
— Corporate Counsel Women of Color, Career Strategies Conference
— Hispanic National Bar Association
— Just the Beginning Foundation
— Latin American Education Fund
— MCCA (Minority Corporate Council Association) Annual CLE Expo
— MCCA “Creating Pathways to Diversity” Conference
— MCCA Regional Diversity dinners (honoring “Employers of Choice”)
— Minority Outside Counsel Networking Conference
— National Asian Pacific American Bar Association
— National Bar Association
— National Black Law Students Association (at various law schools)
— National Employment Law Council
Our lawyers have served and continue to serve in leadership roles in the National Bar Association, the Hispanic National Bar Association and the National Asian Pacific American Bar Association. Currently, Helen Kim is President-Elect of the National Asian Pacific American Bar Association, Sean Andrade is the Regional President for Southern California and Jeremy Atencio is a Deputy Regional President for the Hispanic National Bar Association, and Otto Beatty is Vice Chair of the Bankruptcy Section and a member of the Executive Committee for the Commercial Law Section and Corporate Counsel Conference of the National Bar Association.
Structured for Success
LifeWorks (Employee Assistance) Program
This confidential service is available to our employees and their family members to assist with the resolution of personal and family concerns.— Childcare Resource and Referral—This program supplies information and resource materials regarding the selection of day care services, establishment of backup day care arrangements, nanny services, in-home childcare providers, day care centers, before and after school programs and summer camps/programs.
— Eldercare Resource and Referral—Many individuals assist aging parents and family members on an ongoing basis. This program provides materials on eldercare services, as well as care options available.
Parental Leave Program
Time off to be with your newborn or newly adopted child is provided by this four-week paid leave benefit, which is in addition to paid maternity leave (up to eight weeks) that can be requested by eligible employees. This paid leave qualifies as FMLA time in accordance with the Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993 (FMLA).
Paid Time Off Programs
We understand the last-minute demands and stress that occur when a child is ill or there is a family emergency. To
accommodate these needs, individuals are able to use their personal paid time off for these concerns.
Alternative Work Schedules
This program is designed to accommodate family concerns and other outside interests by providing eligible individuals with remote access work arrangements and/or part-time schedules.
Dependent Care Assistance Program
Under this program, individuals may set aside up to $5,000 annually on a pre-tax basis for dependent care expenses, including childcare and dependent eldercare.
Recognizing and respecting that a diverse workforce has distinctive needs, the firm offers competitive, comprehensive benefit plans* that are responsive to individual needs, and we have made a commitment to assist our lawyers and staff in balancing the demands of work and life.
Cincinnati Cleveland Columbus Costa Mesa Denver Houston Los Angeles New York Orlando Washington, DC
Diversity and Women’s
Committee Members
Diversity Committee
Sean A. Andrade 213.975.1620 [email protected] G. Thomas Ball 407.649.4004 [email protected] Johnine P. Barnes 202.861.1633 [email protected] Otto Beatty, III 614.462.2666 [email protected] Joseph L. Chairez 714.966.8822 [email protected] Martiné (Marty) R. Dunn 513.929.3412 [email protected] José C. Feliciano 216.861.7827 [email protected] R. Steven Kestner 216.861.7558 [email protected] William F. Kuntz, II 212.589.4229 [email protected] Lydia W. Lee 213.975.1603 [email protected] Michelle D. Pector 713.646.1326 [email protected] Lisa H. Pennington 713.646.1303 [email protected] Maurice Sanchez 714.966.8809 [email protected] Hewitt B. Shaw, Jr. 216.861.7514 [email protected] George A. Stamboulidis 212.589.4211 [email protected] Gregory C. Ulmer 713.646.1363 [email protected] Monica S. Verma 216.861.7370 [email protected] Alec Wightman
Committee Chair 614.462.2636 [email protected] Cranston J. Williams 213.975.1835 [email protected]
Women’s Committee
Rebecca C. Alexander 303.764.4062 [email protected] Mary P. Birk 303.764.4041 [email protected] Penny M. Costa 213.975.1872 [email protected] Elizabeth A. Dellinger 216.861.7793 [email protected] Richard T. Fulton 407.649.4005 [email protected] Suzanne K. Hanselman 216.861.7090 [email protected] Robin E. Harvey 513.929.3409 [email protected] Tonya A. Jacobs 713.646.1358 [email protected] Helen B. Kim 213.975.1611 [email protected] James L. Moore 713.646.1374 [email protected] Betty Southard Murphy 202.861.1586 [email protected] Rosemary O’Shea 407.649.4006 [email protected] John D. Parker 216.861.7610 [email protected] Lisa H. Pennington
Committee Chair 713.646.1303 [email protected] Georgeann G. Peters 614.462.4769 [email protected] Patricia A. Poole 216.861.7661 [email protected] Lauren J. Resnick 212.589.4241 [email protected] Elizabeth A. Scully 202.861.1698 [email protected] Alec Wightman 614.462.2636 [email protected] Deborah A. Wilcox 216.861.7864 [email protected]
C i n c i n n a t i C l e v e l a n d C o l u m b u s C o s t a M e s a D e n v e r H o u s t o n L o s A n g e l e s N e w Yo r k O r l a n d o Wa s h i n g t o n , D C
