DRI-The Voice of the Defense Bar, Hosts Seminar to Discuss Diversity Trends in Today's Law Firm

31 May 2006

What makes today's top-tier law firms excel in diversity? This is a question that law firms around the country need to address as the global economy has made diversity a priority. More and more corporations are tailoring their business objectives to match the diversity found in the ever expanding global marketplace. These same corporations, and their general counsel, are beginning to demand that their law firms follow suit.

More than 300 participants and 14 corporations have signed on to attend the ground-breaking "Diversity for Success: Retaining, Recruiting, and Rainmaking for Minority Lawyers and Law Firms," held by DRI-The Voice of the Defense Bar, in Chicago from June 1-2, 2006. The seminar welcomes minority attorneys, law firms, and diversity consultants to focus on this call to action. The conference will be held at the Westin Chicago River North.

This innovative seminar will begin with a provocative panel addressing the most pressing diversity issue facing law firms-how Corporate America evaluates law firm diversity programs. The panel is comprised of noted professionals from corporations across all arenas of business including, N. Cornell Boggs, III of Coors Brewing Company, Michael Daugherty from Chubb Group of Insurance Companies, Sandra Phillips of Pfizer Inc. and William A. Von Hoene, Jr. of the Exelon Corporation.

"Attorneys of color account for only 5 percent of the partners in the nation's major law firms, and women account for only 17 percent. Law firms must show their commitment to the recruitment and mentoring of minorities as diversity is one of the most critical components of successful law firms today," said Cheryl Diaz, Chair of DRI's Diversity Law Committee. "Corporations' insistence that more diversity leads to better business is not a passing fad, but a trend with staying power. Law firms need to understand and utilize the tools this seminar explores to maximize their relationships with their current and prospective clients."

A Corporate Expo will wrap up the two day event. National and international corporations committed to promoting diversity will have the chance to interview potential law firm attendees that fit their geographic and practice area needs. Corporations attending include Shell Oil, Pfizer, and many more.

"Diversity for Success speaks to what DRI is truly about-educating defense lawyers on issues critical to their practices. In today's changing legal landscape, few issues are more vital than the maintenance of a diverse law firm," said David E. Dukes, President of DRI.

Other sessions include:

* Specific Tactics to Evaluate Diversity-Successes and Failures

* The Power of Diversity Consultants-Helping to Achieve an Inclusive

Workforce

For event registration information, visit DRI at: http://www.dri.org. Members of the media with questions should contact Ray Rahmati at rrahmati@levick.com or 202.973.1319.

About DRI

DRI-The Voice of the Defense Bar, is the national organization of more than 22,500 defense trial lawyers and corporate counsel. DRI provides numerous educational and informational resources to members and offers many opportunities for liaison among defense trial lawyers, Corporate America, and state and local defense organizations. DRI also has an international presence, seeking to enhance understanding of the law among members of the defense community who have reason to be concerned with the expanding globalization of litigation defense. The organization can be reached at http://www.dri.org

Source: prnewswire

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