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Diversity Initiative Honorees
2015

Hal Cohen
Kris Fischer VP and Group Publisher
Editor-In-Chief
Walter J. Storey Executive Editor Editor’s Note
Rebecca Baker Managing Editor
Melissa Hoffmann Digital Editor
Elaine Song Legal Editor
Angela Turturro
Sections Editor

RepoRteRs:
Ben Bedell, senior reporter, Andrew Denney,
Mark Hamblett, Andrew Keshner,

Christine Simmons, Joel Stashenko,
These Initiatives Move the Needle
ARt DepARtment:
Monika Kozak, Rafal Pytel,
Rick Kopstein, photographer
THe goals of the New York Law Journal Diversity honorees are getting feedback
Decisions:
that suggest they may be on to
Ollie McPherson, editor; Project are to recognize the tenacity and creativity of
Larisa Blinderman, William Thiess
professionals working daily to create a diverse legal something: women and diverse
community, and to share ideas that worked.
attorneys are bringing in new business and forming
This report steers clear of rankings. Don’t get me bonds with their mentors; LGBT lawyers say they feel
cAlenDARs:
wrong—we need hard statistics to measure progress they belong; low-income students realize a law career
Patricia Kane, editor
and expose weaknesses in diversity plans. But we is attainable, and more attorneys of color are being
chose to stay away from the scorecard because first, chosen as neutrals or to lead panel discussions in
pRoDuction:
there are dozens of sophisticated rankings already their area of expertise.
Steve Warren, Susan Ferguson, available, and two, diversity professionals know that These victories will not make headlines, but we
Michelle Grutman, Agnieszka Czuj
numbers are only one part of the story. More impor- see them as a reflection of a change in thinking, a
Web:
tant, they say, is how well those smart, hardworking, change in perception not about what New York’s
Lora Hollien
diverse attorneys are being trained and supported to legal community should look like, but what it should
become productive and successful members of New be. These initiatives are opening doors to diverse
York’s legal community.
attorneys and opening the minds of the established
ADveRtising:
Farrell McManus, Associate Publisher
We have been reporting on diversity efforts for a ones. They are offering a different group of lawyers
long time; indeed, as long as the professionals honored the chance to contribute, to share their backgrounds
this evening have been toiling to change the landscape. and ideas with the larger community and with clients.
After the Eureka moment more than a decade ago (Yes! They are ideas that have worked, not to boost num-

law firms should hire women and people of color!) bers by 100 percent, but to move the needle and get
Alm senioR mAnAgement
and tremendous effort was made to recruit quality the legal community closer to inclusion, one lawyer
diverse lawyers, the statistics eventually showed the at a time.
Bill Carter President/CEO
numbers coming in the door were beginning to equal Lenny Izzo President/Legal Media
the numbers heading for the exit. After the economic Jeff S. Litvack
President/Intelligence,
downturn in 2009 adversely affected diversity efforts, Chief Digital Officer
law firms and other groups have struggled to regain Molly Miller
Chief Product
ground.
& Content Officer
What we recognize in this special report is the Dana Rosen
Senior Vice President/
determination of leaders in the profession to take a General Counsel
cold, hard assessment of their diversity programs, to Colleen Zelina Senior Vice President/
keep what worked, toss the rest, learn from mistakes Human Resources
and, if necessary, start over.
Kris Fischer David L. Brown
Vice President/
Most of the initiatives we profile here are too Editor in Chief Editor in Chief
new or too long range to be measurable. But our
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6 Proskauer rose
HonoraBle menTIon:
©2015 ALM MEDiA ProPErTiEs, LLC.
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Section design: Monika Kozak
Cover design: Rafal Pytel

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