Biglaw

Top 20 Biglaw Firm Encourages Associates To Bill For Diversity Work And Community Service

Plus, it's donating $5 million to public interest fellowships focused on addressing racial, social, and economic justice issues.

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Biglaw firms across the country are implementing all manner of initiatives to bring attention to the importance of diversity, equity, and inclusion among their ranks. We’ve previously acknowledged Dorsey & Whitney, Hogan Lovells, Davis Wright Tremaine, Reed Smith, Cooley, Baker McKenzie, Ropes & Gray, Locke Lord, Foley Hoag, K&L Gates, Robinson+Cole, Stoel Rives, and WilmerHale as firms where approved diversity and inclusion-related work will be billable for attorneys and will count toward bonus thresholds. We now have news that one of the top firms in the country has amended its billable hours policy in the name of promoting diversity.

Greenberg Traurig — a firm that brought in $1,730,230,000 gross revenue in 2020 — has been focused on this important initiative since July 2020, when it announced this policy change to recognize associates’ efforts to bring positive change to their firm and their community at large. From the firm’s press release:

Greenberg Traurig has also updated its guidelines for the firm’s U.S. associates intended to reward and incentivize participation in diversity and inclusion activities, as well as in community and civic activities. Effective July 1, 2020, associates will receive up to 50 hours of billable equivalent credit for work on diversity and inclusion initiatives and 25 hours for activities that serve to advance community and civic interests. The firm’s associates can also receive up to 100 hours of billable equivalent credit for pro bono legal work; this includes 25 hours that are mandatory for associates.

Here are some of the activities that are billable and bonus-eligible at the firm:

Greenberg Traurig also launched a Social Justice Action Academy, in the hope of educating and training personnel on matters of race, justice, and equity while facilitating and encouraging “Courageous Conversations” on the topics of race and social justice. The Academy also aims to provide law firm employees with the resources they may need to become leaders on matters of race, inclusion, and equity through the use of its Equality Toolkit. The firm has also pledged to commit $5 million over the next five years to support Equal Justice Works fellows focused on addressing racial, social, and economic justice issues.

“Through a range of targeted activities and new initiatives, our Social, Racial, and Economic Justice Action Plan is now further enhanced with the goal of achieving even greater impact,” said Brian L. Duffy, CEO of Greenberg Traurig. “Under the direction of Chief Diversity Officer and Shareholder Nikki Lewis Simon, the academy promises to be a highly relevant resource for education and meaningful discussions aimed at bridging the gaps in understanding the causes and effects of racism and creating a platform for change,” said Ernest Lamont Greer, co-president of Greenberg Traurig.

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Congratulations to Greenberg Traurig on affirming its already strong commitment to diversity in the legal profession. What is your firm doing to support DE&I within the legal profession? Please email us to let us know.

Staci ZaretskyStaci Zaretsky is a senior editor at Above the Law, where she’s worked since 2011. She’d love to hear from you, so please feel free to email her with any tips, questions, comments, or critiques. You can follow her on Twitter or connect with her on LinkedIn.

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