Chambers D&I USA Report 2023

For the 12^th year, Chambers collected submissions from organizations across the US highlighting their incredible efforts to advance diversity and inclusion through internal initiatives, local and global community programs, and network building. We also saw the focus and advancement of pro bono work and sustainability efforts develop at an impressive rate, reinforcing firms’ commitment to this vital work.

From the multitude of nominations we receive, the Chambers D&I team is tasked with picking out the very best initiatives, analyzing their effectiveness and rewarding a deserving few at our annual awards ceremony. This, our third annual D&I USA Report, takes a deep dive into some of the most innovative and interesting programs submitted through a variety of profiles and case studies. The Report aims to provide readers with inspiration, practical tips and best practice guidance.

The 2023 Report looks at three key trends which wove through the hundreds of submissions we received. We begin with three case studies from firms on the innovative processes they are putting in place to ensure there is a pathway to partnership for diverse and underrepresented attorneys. The initiatives here highlight firms’ increasing willingness to adapt long-standing methodologies for greater equity.

Next we look at a topic of huge significance in the US over the past 12 months, focusing on the work firms and individuals are doing to defend women’s rights. In this section we see a combination of dedicated pro bono work, collaboration with NGOs and government agencies, and creative adaptation of existing laws to protect the rights of women from a variety of threats.

The final section details how in-house legal teams are continually including DEI considerations in their guidelines for outside counsel and increasingly collaborating with law firms to improve the diversity of the profession. From Under Armour, UBS and AbbVie we see a variety of metrics tracked and levers pulled to ensure their work is staffed by diverse teams.

As always, we’ve included Chambers editorial on these themes from our D&I Managers, Ellie Gerszt and Luke Vincett, as well as closing remarks from USA Research Director, Kush Cheema, and USA Head of Research, James Haggerty.

Each section covers how these successful initiatives were established, the challenges they had to overcome and how they managed to achieve their aims. The combination of case studies and profiles details collaborations from local NGOs to huge multinationals. The common denominator in all the pieces included is absolute commitment to the cause, and a determination to make a difference.

We hope that this briefing will help support you in your D&I and pro bono work and look forward to continually collaborating with the legal profession through our research and events.

Chambers D&I USA Report 2023: Better Process, Better Outcomes

Chambers would like to thank the organizations that contributed to this edition of the report:

Davis Wright Tremaine
Fragomen, Del Rey, Bernsen & Loewy, LLP
Mintz
Riley Safer Holmes & Cancila LLP
Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP
Wilmer Hale
AbbVie
UBS AG
Under Armour