CHICAGO ― National law firm Hinshaw & Culbertson LLP announced today that it has been awarded a 100% rating on the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) Corporate Equality Index for 2010, recognizing the firm’s commitment to diversity through promoting and protecting gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender (GLBT) rights. Hinshaw’s 100% rating marks it as one of HRC’s “Best Places To Work.”
“This tremendous accomplishment places Hinshaw among an elite group of large law firms recognized as having an especially strong commitment to diversity,” said Hinshaw’s Chairman,
Donald L. Mrozek. “Hinshaw is committed to providing equal benefits and protections to all lawyers and staff. This commitment reflects our firm’s culture of fairness and inclusion. It translates into a positive work environment and gives us a leg up on recruiting the best lawyers,” he said.
HRC is the largest organization in the country promoting civil rights for GLBT persons. The 8th annual Corporate Equality Index rated a total of 590 private employers, with only 88 law firms nationwide obtaining a 100% rating. Employers are rated on a scale of 0 percent to 100 percent on factors including whether they have a written non-discrimination policy and offer training covering sexual orientation and gender expression; support same-sex domestic partners of employees with health insurance, bereavement and family leave policies; have GLBT employee groups; and contribute to related community organizations.
Mr. Mrozek gives credit for Hinshaw’s impressive diversity rating to the hard work and commitment of the firm’s Diversity Committee, Human Resources staff, and Hinshaw’s GLBT Affinity Network.
Hinshaw’s GLBT Affinity Network was launched last year and works to enhance the firm’s diversity mission and goals. All five of the firm’s affinity networks (of which the GLBT network is one) have been active in the legal and business communities, sponsoring, presenting and attending events as well as supporting causes of concern to their particular communities. Most recently, the firm’s GLBT Affinity Network partnered with the Lesbian & Gay Bar Association of Chicago to sponsor an ethics presentation related to reporting attorney misconduct.
“Even in an economic environment that has presented new challenges for lawyers in private practice, the nation’s largest and most prestigious law firms have only stepped up their commitment to recruiting and retaining a diverse group of attorneys and staff,” said HRC Foundation President Joe Solmonese. “Legal work in this country is deeply rooted in our nation’s core values of equality and justice for all, and law firms like Hinshaw & Culbertson continue to set the gold standard for treating their GLBT employees fairly.”
The Human Rights Campaign is America’s largest civil rights organization working to achieve lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender equality. By inspiring and engaging all Americans, HRC strives to end discrimination against GLBT citizens and realize a nation that achieves fundamental fairness and equality for all. For more information about HRC or their Equality Index, go to
www.hrc.org.
Founded in 1934, Hinshaw & Culbertson LLP is a national law firm with more than 460 lawyers in 24 offices spanning 12 states, including
Arizona,
California, Florida,
Illinois,
Indiana,
Massachusetts,
Minnesota,
Missouri,
New York,
Oregon,
Rhode Island and
Wisconsin.
Hinshaw offers a full-service practice, with an emphasis in litigation, business law and corporate transactions, environmental, intellectual property, labor and employment law, professional liability defense, estate planning and taxation matters. The firm represents a range of for-profit and not-for-profit clients in industries that include alarm and security services, construction, financial services, health care, hospitality, insurance, legal, manufacturing, real estate, retail and transportation. Hinshaw clients also include government agencies, municipalities and schools.