AUSTIN – August 23, 2018 – For a second consecutive year, the Austin office of global law firm Greenberg Traurig, LLP received an “A” on the 2017 Austin Law Firm Diversity Report Card. In addition to the letter grade, firms are ranked based on their weighted percentage of diverse attorneys. Greenberg Traurig received the highest percentage out of the reported firms, in addition to receiving an A.
The committee that issues the annual report card consists of members of the Hispanic Bar Association of Austin (HBAA), the Austin Black Lawyers Association, the Austin Asian American Bar Association, the South Asian Bar Association of Austin, the Austin LGBT Bar Association, and the Travis County Women Lawyers' Association.
The report card looks at 2017 statistics from 29 of Austin’s largest law firms, grading firms based on percentage of minority attorneys and minority partners. “A” grades were given to firms that demonstrated “exceptional minority recruitment, hiring, retention efforts, and results,” according to the HBAA. This year, the standard for grades was raised compared to report cards issued in prior years, the HBAA said.
“All of us at Greenberg Traurig are very proud of this distinction. Our collaborative and welcoming culture helps diverse lawyers feel included and integrated into the Austin office. This culture of respect and inclusion allows for all of our lawyers to have the best opportunity for success,” said Demetrius G. McDaniel, Greenberg Traurig’s co-regional operating shareholder for its Texas offices. Thomas J. Bond, managing shareholder of the firm’s Austin office, also said, “Our success in Texas and across the firm is due in large part to our diversity of backgrounds, genders, ideas, and viewpoints, which enable us to provide more strategic and creative advice to our clients.”
Sandra D. Gonzalez, a shareholder in the law firm’s Austin office, said, “I am thrilled that we received the highest grade among law firms in Austin because it reflects firm management’s thoughtful efforts to recruit, hire, and retain minority attorneys.”
About Greenberg Traurig’s Diversity Initiative: From its inception, Greenberg Traurig has been committed to diversity and inclusion in the workplace. Greenberg Traurig is a uniquely empowering and diverse firm built on a foundation of fairness, equality, and authenticity. The firm's efforts have been recognized by local, national, and global publications and organizations including, Chambers and Partners.
About Greenberg Traurig, LLP – Texas: Greenberg Traurig has more than 125 attorneys in Texas, serving clients from offices in Austin, Dallas, and Houston.
About Greenberg Traurig, LLP: Greenberg Traurig, LLP (GT) has more than 2,000 attorneys in 38 offices in the United States, Latin America, Europe, Asia and the Middle East. GT has been recognized for its philanthropic giving, was named the largest firm in the U.S. by Law360 in 2017, and is among the Top 20 on the 2017 Am Law Global 100. Web: www.gtlaw.com Twitter: @GT_Law.