Chicago partner Avanti Bakane and member of Diversity Scholarship Foundation (DSF) presented one of six Advocates for Diversity awards at the Unity Award Dinner, DSF's premier fundraising annual event, on November 27 in Chicago, Illinois. A committee member of the DSF Unity Dinner for five years, Bakane, introduced the award recipient, Arbitrator for the Illinois Workers' Compensation Commission Barbara Flores, before presenting the honor. Ms. Flores is the first Latina arbitrator appointed to the position.
The Advocates for Diversity award recognizes members of the Chicago legal community for their tireless efforts in making significant contributions to the legal community and the community at large, including embracing diversity and the ideals diversity represents. Other awards also presented at the dinner included the Unity Award given to Illinois Supreme Court Chief Justice Hon. Lloyd A. Karmeire, and the Justice Laura C. Liu award given to Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan.
Gordon & Rees was a Bronze Level sponsor and hosted a table seating members of the legal community, judiciary, as well as Gordon & Rees lawyers Robert Johnson, Jonathan Blakley, Jordan Matthis, and Bakane.
"It's an honor to represent Gordon & Rees at the Unity Awards Dinner, and it’s incredible to see our Chicago office embody our firm’s goals of being more diverse and inclusive," said Bakane. "A true highlight was awarding more than 20 DSF's scholarships to diverse law students from across Illinois, Indiana and Wisconsin who have already demonstrated a strong commitment to community service."
The Diversity Scholarship Foundation (DSF) is a not-for-profit organization that provides scholarships to diverse and deserving law students. The DSF also provides free continuing legal education seminars (CLEs) on a wide range of topics.
Gordon & Rees' Diversity Committee is dedicated to cultivating an environment that values differences and is committed to fostering an environment that supports diversity and inclusion in the workplace. To learn more about Gordon & Rees' commitment to diversity, please click here.
Gordon & Rees is a national litigation and business transactions firm with more than 850 lawyers in 52 offices across the United States. Our lawyers provide full service representation to public and private companies ranging from the Fortune 500 to start-ups. Founded in 1974, Gordon & Rees is recognized among the fastest growing and largest law firms in the country. Additionally, in 2018 Law360 ranked the firm among the top 40 largest U.S. firms and The American Lawyer ranked the firm among the top 45 on its Diversity Scorecard.