Gordon Rees Scully Mansukhani is pleased to announce that for the eighth consecutive year, it has received a 100% rating on the 2023 Corporate Equality Index ("CEI"), a national benchmarking survey and report on corporate policies and practices related to lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender ("LGBTQ") workplace equality, administered by the Human Rights Campaign ("HRC") Foundation.
The 2023 CEI report evaluated LGBTQ-related policies and practices, including non-discrimination workplace protections, domestic partner benefits, transgender-inclusive health care benefits, competency programs, and public engagement with the LGBTQ community. GRSM's efforts in satisfying all of the CEI's criteria resulted in a 100% ranking and recognition as an "Equality 100" workplace, the highest score an inclusive company can receive.
Firmwide Managing Partner Dion Cominos emphasized the significance of achieving a perfect score for the eighth consecutive year, "This accomplishment underscores the firm's unwavering dedication to nurturing a diverse, equitable, and inclusive workplace across the country."
GRSM's Diversity Committee has focused on maintaining and improving diversity and inclusivity for over thirty years. The firm actively supports efforts to advance diversity in the legal profession by developing, funding, and hosting diversity programs and attending, supporting, and participating in numerous events throughout the country provided by diversity-related legal profession organizations.
"We take great pride in achieving a flawless score on the Corporate Equality Index. This achievement speaks volumes about the firm's commitment to acknowledging and championing the importance of diversity and inclusion, both in the legal profession and in serving our clients," stated Laura De Santos, co-chair of the firm's National Diversity Committee.
To further diversity and inclusion goals, the firm has five active affinity groups: LGBTQ+, African American, Hispanic/Latino, Asian American, and South Asian. Each affinity group has its own established goals and initiatives. The groups meet regularly to network, socialize, and provide mentoring opportunities to its members. Membership is open to all attorneys who share the affinity or who are supporting allies.
"In our dedicated pursuit of LGBTQ+ inclusivity, our efforts in this area proudly span the nation, from Florida to Washington State. Our commitment extends through major urban hubs like Boston, San Francisco, Chicago, New York, Los Angeles, and Pittsburgh and also reaches into the heartlands of South Carolina, Texas, and Iowa," shared Dominic Campodonico, co-chair of the firm's LGBTQ+ Affinity Group.
In the last few years, the firm has ramped up its diversity and inclusion efforts with the Leadership Equality and Diversity ("LEAD") program to recruit, retain, and promote female and diverse attorneys to the highest management and ownership positions. This initiative, which works in tandem with the ongoing programs undertaken by the firm's Diversity Committee, Women's Initiative, and Affinity Groups, has been specifically tailored to achieve the firm's core objectives in diversity and inclusion. In addition to its focus on attorneys, the LEAD Program also encompasses GRSM's administrative and professional staff to ensure that material levels of diversity are achieved in these segments of the firm as well.
The Human Rights Campaign Foundation is the educational arm of America's largest civil rights organization, working to achieve equality for the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender community. By inspiring and engaging all Americans, HRC strives to end discrimination against LGBTQ citizens and realize a nation that achieves fundamental fairness and equality for all.
For more information about diversity at GRSM, please click here.
For more information on the Corporate Equality Index 2023, please click here.