Overview
CHICAGO (December 5, 2016) — International law firm McDermott Will & Emery proudly announced that for the eleventh consecutive year it has earned a perfect score of 100 percent on the Corporate Equality Index (CEI), a national benchmarking survey and report on corporate policies and practices related to LGBT workplace equality, administered by the Human Rights Campaign Foundation.
“It fills me with pride to know that McDermott has once again received top marks on the Corporate Equality Index,” said Michael Weaver, partner-in-charge for LGBT Diversity & Inclusion. “For us it’s not just about achieving a perfect score but rather it’s about proving – day in and day out – that the Firm is truly committed to nurturing an inclusive culture that celebrates diversity.”
The 2017 CEI rated 1,043 businesses in the report, which evaluates LGBT-related policies and practices including non-discrimination workplace protections, domestic partner benefits, transgender-inclusive health care benefits, competency programs, and public engagement with the LGBT community. McDermott’s efforts in satisfying all of the CEI’s criteria resulted in a 100 percent ranking and the designation as a Best Place to Work for LGBT Equality.
As one of the first international firms to create a Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) affinity group, McDermott is a recognized leader in the realm of LGBT workplace diversity and inclusion. In fact, McDermott’s LGBT Diversity & Inclusion Committee has developed Firm-wide policies and programs to maintain a supportive and inclusive environment for all employees. This has included extending domestic partner benefits to same-sex partners prior to marriage equality (2002), adopting a non-discrimination policy inclusive of transgender people (2006), implementing Gender Transition Guidelines for transgender attorneys and staff (2008), becoming one of the first law firms or companies to offer tax gross-up payments for its people who are taxed on the value of medical, dental and vision benefits provided to their same-sex domestic partners (2011), and becoming one of the first law firms to offer full health coverage for transgender lawyers and staff (2012).
“Even in the face of relentless attempts to undermine equality, America’s leading companies and law firms remain steadfast and committed to supporting and defending the rights and dignity of LGBTQ people,” said HRC President Chad Griffin. “The unprecedented expansion of inclusive workplaces across the country and around the globe not only reflects our progress, it helps drive it. As we enter a new chapter in our fight for equality, support from the business community will be more critical than ever to protect our historic advancements over the last decade and to continue to push equality forward for workers, customers, and families around the world.”
McDermott’s perfect score on the 2017 CEI is a result of the Firm’s belief that diversity is necessary to achieve excellence in all aspects of client service. The Firm is committed to a culture that values and nurtures diversity and appreciates its importance in attracting and retaining exceptional talent.
“Through 15 editions of the annual Corporate Equality Index, major private sector employers have demonstrated over and over that inclusion is not just the right thing to do, it makes for a stronger, more successful business,” said Deena Fidas, Director of HRC’s Workplace Equality Program. “From centuries-old companies to those that have existed for just a few years, major employers have adopted LGBT-inclusive policies and benefits at rates that continue to outpace lawmakers and lead the way forward.”
For more information on the 2017 Corporate Equality Index, or to download a free copy of the report, visit hrc.im/CEIReport.
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.
About The Human Rights Campaign
The Human Rights Campaign Foundation is the educational arm of America’s largest civil rights organization working to achieve equality for lesbian, gay, bisexual transgender and queer people. HRC envisions a world where LGBTQ people are embraced as full members of society at home, at work and in every community.