Franz Hardy, co-managing partner of the Denver office and co-chair of the firm’s Diversity Committee, was recently interviewed by the Colorado Bar Association for a news bulletin concerning equity, diversity, and inclusivity in the practice of law in response to George Floyd’s murder and the ongoing global movement for racial equality and justice.
The interview examines engagement strategies for lawyers and law firms to promote diversity and inclusion and emphasizes the need for mentorship within the profession. The interview also relays the importance of capitalizing on the opportunities available to lawyers as the “gatekeepers to the justice system” to get involved in these conversations.
“Diversity and inclusion is a hard issue for law firms. There are three fundamental principles of successful diversity and inclusion efforts: recruit, retain, and promote. It sounds easy, but it is hard work. Law firms have notoriously high attrition rates. It is a tough environment where success is ultimately measured by your ability to essentially build your own business within a business while becoming a skilled attorney," Hardy said.
Hardy is a trial attorney with a focus on business and insurance litigation, including commercial disputes, directors and officers liability, coverage, and employee benefits. He is also recognized as an accomplished professional liability practitioner. He maintains an active state and federal trial court practice, in addition to handling numerous appeals.
To read the full interview, please click here.