Overview
MIAMI (August 10, 2017) — McDermott Will & Emery is pleased to announce that Anthony (Tony) Upshaw has been appointed to serve as the Firm’s Global Head of Diversity & Inclusion. In this role, Mr. Upshaw will work across the Firm to ensure that diversity and inclusion are key considerations in every major decision McDermott makes.
“We know that diversity and inclusion are essential to our continued success. We’re proud of the progress we’ve made, but we always want to do more and do better—and Tony will help us do just this. Throughout his career, he has been an extraordinary champion for bringing together diverse people and ideas to strengthen our teams and deliver superior results to our clients,” said Firm Chair, Ira J. Coleman.
Mr. Upshaw will work closely with McDermott’s Firm-wide Diversity & Inclusion Committee to continue developing and implementing comprehensive policies and programming to ensure that McDermott attracts, nurtures, retains and promotes top talent from a variety of diverse backgrounds. He will steer the Diversity & Inclusion Committee along the path to an ever more inclusive work environment by ensuring that all lawyers and staff understand the value of a diverse workplace while maintaining an atmosphere in which all Firm employees have an equal opportunity to succeed.
“I am truly humbled and honored to serve as McDermott’s Global Head of Diversity & Inclusion,” said Mr. Upshaw. “I recognize the great importance of this role, and I am committed to making sure that McDermott and the entire legal industry continue making progress to move the needle when it comes to recognizing and promoting the value of diversity in all forms.”
In 2013 Mr. Upshaw was appointed co-chair of McDermott’s Racial & Ethnic Diversity & Inclusion Committee and he later served as the Chair of the 2015 Inclusion Initiative for the Miami-Dade County Bar Association. He has also been recognized for his commitment to diversity and inclusion throughout his legal career. In 2015 Mr. Upshaw was featured by Law360 as one of its “Minority Powerbrokers,” and just this year he was recognized by Minority Corporate Counsel Association’s Diversity & The Bar magazine as one of its “Top 10 Rainmakers” of 2017.
Naming Mr. Upshaw as the Global Head of Diversity & Inclusion is one of many recent initiatives reinforcing the Firm’s steadfast belief that diversity (in all forms) is essential to continued success. As part of the Firm’s renewed commitment, McDermott held its inaugural Racial & Ethnic Diversity Summit in June 2017. The Summit brought together 120 attorneys and in-house counsel for two days of productive and inspiring discussions.
Earlier this year, McDermott also held its first ever Women’s Summit as a way for women Capital Partners to gather for a frank discussion about how McDermott can become a better place for women, and, ultimately, all of its lawyers and staff. The Summit encouraged an open and honest dialogue about some of the challenges women face in the legal industry and the ways in which McDermott can support women on their paths to success.
About McDermott Will & Emery
McDermott Will & Emery is a premier international law firm with a diversified business practice. Numbering more than 1,000 lawyers, we have offices in Boston, Brussels, Chicago, Dallas, Düsseldorf, Frankfurt, Houston, London, Los Angeles, Miami, Milan, Munich, New York, Orange County, Paris, Rome, Seoul, Silicon Valley and Washington, DC. Further extending our reach into Asia, we have a strategic alliance with MWE China Law Offices in Shanghai.
