Firm Scores Perfect 100 Percent Rating on HRC’s 2011 Corporate Equality Index
BOSTON, Oct. 5, 2010 – The Human Rights Campaign (HRC) announced today that Goodwin Procter LLP has achieved the top rating in its 2011 Corporate Equality Index. Now in its ninth year, the survey is an annual listing that measures how equitably companies are treating their gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender (GLBT) employees, clients and investors.
“A policy of diversity and equal access to justice is important,” said Regina M. Pisa, chairman and managing partner. “In addition to reflecting our firm’s core values, Goodwin Procter’s commitment to promoting a culture of inclusion is a key component of our strategic business approach.”
Goodwin Procter supports GLBT equality through a firm-sponsored GLBT Initiative. The firm provides an array of programs to create a stronger, more supportive GLBT community at the firm while also engaging with the broader, external GLBT community within the legal profession. Recent examples of these efforts include:
• Goodwin Procter is proud to sponsor several leading GLBT advocacy organizations, including the ACLU Lesbian Gay Bisexual & Transgender AIDS Project, National LGBT Bar Association, Point Foundation, Gay & Lesbian Advocates & Defenders (GLAD), and Gay Men’s Domestic Violence Project.
• The firm provides ongoing pro bono legal support to several GLBT non-profit organizations, including GMHC, a leading provider of HIV/AIDS prevention, care and advocacy; and the Point Foundation, a leading provider of scholarships to gay and lesbian college and graduate students.
• Goodwin Procter’s comprehensive professional development program includes targeted mentorship opportunities to help GLBT attorneys at each stage of their career.
This year’s Corporate Equality Index survey rates law firms and other businesses on a point system on several factors, including whether they have a written non-discrimination policy and training covering sexual orientation and gender identity; support same-sex partners of employees with health insurance, bereavement and family leave policies; have GLBT employee groups; engage in appropriate and respectful advertising and marketing; and sponsor LGBT community events or organizations.
The index was released by the HRC as part of a report showing that a record number of the largest U.S. companies are expanding benefits and protections for their GLBT employees and clients. The full report is available at www.hrc.org/cei.
About Goodwin Procter
Goodwin Procter LLP is one of the nation’s leading law firms with offices in Boston, Hong Kong, London, Los Angeles, New York, San Diego, San Francisco, Silicon Valley, and Washington, D.C. The firm’s core areas of practice are corporate, litigation and real estate, with specialized areas of focus that include financial services, private equity, technology, REITs and real estate capital markets, intellectual property, products liability and mass torts. Information may be found at www.goodwinprocter.com.