"The firm’s Diversity Committee was formed expressly to assist in recruiting, retaining, and supporting the development of a diverse population of attorneys, paralegals, administrators, and staff. The Diversity Committee also makes recommendations to the firm’s Executive Committee regarding relevant initiatives, issues, and strategies that will assist in increasing the diversity of the firm at all levels. Our firm is a proud member of organizations that are committed to increasing diversity in the legal profession, such as the Philadelphia Diversity Law Group. We believe strongly in the philosophy of inclusiveness and are committed to increasing the diversity of our firm and, more broadly, the legal profession."

Gregory Williams
Chair of the Diversity Committee and
Office Managing Partner of the Delaware Office
Mr. Williams is a board member of the Philadelphia Diversity Law Group and former President of the Barristers’ Association of Philadelphia, Inc., where he was installed as the youngest President in the history of the Association.

Diversity Committee

The firm’s Diversity Committee assists in the recruitment, retention, and development of a diverse population of attorneys, paralegals, administrators, and staff throughout Fox Rothschild. The group meets regularly to evaluate issues, formulate strategies, and make recommendations to the Executive Committee to increase firm-wide diversity and inclusiveness. The Committee comprises partners and associates, and includes among its members the highest levels of firm management.

Mission of the Diversity Committee

To promote diversity and inclusiveness in all forms and in all areas of the firm

To develop strategies to enhance the recruitment, retention, and growth of attorneys of color and other diverse backgrounds

To develop strategies to enhance the recruitment, retention, and promotion of employees of color and diverse backgrounds in our professional staff

To educate others about the fact that diversity or inclusiveness is an “and/both” proposition rather than an “either/or” proposition; diversity includes everyone and does not mean that some are losing if others are gaining

To educate our colleagues about the fact that diversity is both a moral issue and a platform that enables us to better serve our current clients, provide opportunities for new business, and otherwise strengthen our firm

Minorities

In 1993, Fox Rothschild joined several other area law firms in signing the Philadelphia Bar Association’s proclamation dedicated to increasing the representation and retention of minorities in the Philadelphia legal community. Further evidence of our commitment is activity in numerous minority organizations, such as:

• African American Male Conference
• Korean Chamber of Commerce and Industry in the USA
• Barristers’ Association of Philadelphia
• Delaware State Bar Association Minority Judges and Lawyers Section
• Philadelphia Diversity Law Group

Representative initiatives in the Philadelphia office include:

• membership in the Philadelphia Diversity Law Group
• participation in Philadelphia Diversity Law Group’s Summer Associate Program, by which the Philadelphia office hires a first-year student
• active recruitment of diverse students and associates at minority student job fairs and law schools with diverse populations
• hosting an annual reception (with other Philadelphia law firms) for first-year students from diverse backgrounds
• commitment to participation in Drexel University School of Law’s Diversity Fellowship Program
• supporting events through various minority student groups and bar associations, including making contributions participation in special events

Women’s Initiatives

Fox Rothschild takes active steps to integrate and involve women in all aspects of the firm’s governance, policy development, and administration. The firm expressly provides ongoing support through:

• The Women Attorneys Group, which meets regularly to discuss approaches for developing business with all clients. The group encourages women from all 15 offices to network, exchange ideas, find mentors, and develop relationships with the women partners and leaders
• recruitment efforts, bringing in classes of entry-level associates that are approximately fifty percent women
• policies that help all employees meet the challenges of balancing work and family. These include liberal leave and part-time options as well as generous benefits. The firm’s bonus plan applies to part-time associates. Women associates have been elevated to partner while working a part-time schedule (see testimonial, below)

Model Leadership

Our attorneys are active in other women’s organizations and charities, including the Women’s Law Project, Women Organized Against Rape, and the Women’s Law Caucus. Our participation in the Philadelphia Office — representative of our efforts firm-wide — includes signing on to the Philadelphia Bar Association Statement of Goals of Philadelphia Law Firms and Legal Departments for the Retention and Promotion of Women. Female partners in Philadelphia have also served:

• on the Board of Governors of the Philadelphia Bar Association
• as Chair of Women’s Way, the nation’s oldest and largest funding federation for services for women and children
• on the Executive Committee of the Gender Fairness in the Courts Task Force in Philadelphia
• as driving forces behind gender equality in the Philadelphia courts

A Managing Partner’s Testimonial

"When working for large firms or businesses, it is only natural to wonder if, when it comes to women’s issues, they can ‘walk the walk’ and not just ‘talk the talk.’ I have been a part-time lawyer during my tenure with Fox. While in my part-time status, I became eligible (calculated on years of practice) for partnership at Fox.

To make things even a little more interesting, I learned I was pregnant (with my second child) during the partnership evaluation process. Realistically speaking, this meant that I would be asking the firm to make me a partner in April, only to go out on maternity leave in August. Based on my merits, however, I knew I could meet the partnership criteria and potentially be elevated to partner during my ‘first trip up.’ I went through the process, revealing my pregnancy to the partnership evaluation committee probably even earlier than I told some of my closest friends.

The firm was unequivocally fair, judged me on merits, and offered me a partnership that year (2002). Since then, I have continued in part-time status. In April of 2005, I became the managing partner of the Warrington, PA (Bucks County) Office. In my capacity as managing partner, I serve on the Executive Committee of the firm. Needless to say, I cannot say enough about my personal experience with Fox as a family-friendly firm."

Susan Smith
Managing Partner of Warrington, PA (Bucks County) Office