Prominent Lawyers Stepping Up With Training To Stop Sexual Misconduct

For employers who really care about creating a more equitable workplace.

Tina Chen and Robbie Kaplan

As the full scope and ramifications of the #MeToo movement in the legal industry continue to be explored, there’s been a question hanging over the endeavor: What concrete steps can we take to make it better? Following that through-line, two prominent lawyers — Robbie Kaplan, founding partner of Kaplan, Hecker & Fink LLP, and Tina Tchen, partner at Buckley LLP — have launched a new venture aimed at stopping harassment.

The duo — who also made news when they started TIME’S UP Legal Defense Fund — have launched a new company, HABIT (Harassment, Acceptance, Bias, and Inclusion Training). HABIT will offer compliance and anti-harassment training programs to companies to help them transform their corporate culture to focus on inclusion and safer workplaces.

HABIT is unique in that it goes beyond just compliance services, expanding that limited model to enable employers to change the culture of their companies, as Tchen said in a statement:

“HABIT will enable employers to move beyond the traditional compliance-centric approach to addressing workplace harassment. Through HABIT, we will bring our expertise and perspective to help companies build a stronger workplace culture by promoting equality, respect, and diversity as fundamental values that make workplaces stronger and more productive.”

Kaplan also noted their programs are meant for clients that really want to bring meaningful change to their workplaces:

“Many employers, realizing that the old ways have not worked in the wake of #MeToo and TIMES UP, are looking at how they can create safer, more inclusive, and respectful workplaces and want more than a ‘check the box’ approach. HABIT will help companies identify and eliminate the many structural barriers that keep women and minorities from advancing in the workplace and having a seat at the table. Our approach is about more than just compliance or mitigating litigation risk — it is about creating meaningful social and cultural change.”

As their website implores visitors, “Make equality, inclusion, and respect a H.A.B.I.T. at your office.”


headshotKathryn Rubino is a Senior Editor at Above the Law, and host of The Jabot podcast. AtL tipsters are the best, so please connect with her. Feel free to email her with any tips, questions, or comments and follow her on Twitter (@Kathryn1).