Michael Oshima
Chairman and CEO
With inclusiveness as one of its core values, Arnold & Porter LLP is a true leader in law firm diversity. Frequent awards for both diversity performance and substantive legal success are proof of Arnold & Porter's belief that diversity makes a law firm stronger and better able to serve its clients.
The firm's New York office reflects its progress and commitment to innovative and responsive service. Eighteen percent of the attorneys in this office are minorities and 39 percent are women. Almost 30 percent of the associates in the New York office are minorities and 58 percent are women. The numbers should make for an even more diverse firm in the future: Forty-seven percent of the new associate class are women and 20 percent are minorities.
According to Michael Oshima, who heads the New York office diversity committee, "Diversity is about treating others with respect. The conduct of each person reflects on the entire firm and speaks volumes about the culture of a firm."
The New York office promotes a relaxed and congenial working environment, reinforced by informal social gatherings and other events held twice a week. Attorneys at all levels are involved in the administration and development of its practice. Associates serve alongside partners on some of the office's high profile committees, including the diversity, hiring, summer associate, and pro bono committees. The office encourages attorneys to participate actively in affinity groups and outside committees. For example, one of Arnold & Porter's female partners chairs the board of directors of the Lawyers Alliance for New York, and a minority partner serves on the board of governors of the Japanese American National Museum and the Association of the Bar of the City of New York's Committee on Minorities in the Profession.
Arnold & Porter has been recognized nationally and repeatedly for its diversity accomplishments within the legal profession and overall. It has been named three times to the Fortune magazine list of "100 Best Companies to Work For" and six times to Working Mother magazine's list of "100 Best Companies for Working Mothers" (the only law firm on that list in 2004 and 2005). Arnold & Porter is the only firm ever honored with the 2000 GAYLAW Ally for Justice Award. Additionally, the Vault 2005 Guide to the Top 100 Law Firms ranked the firm number four for diversity. In addition to six previous "Thomas L. Sager" Awards, Arnold & Porter is the only law firm ever awarded MCCA's "Employer of Choice" Award.
At press time, the N.Y. dinners had not been held. Group photos of the award winners for the Northeast region will appear in the Jan./Feb. 2006 issue of Diversity & the Bar®.
From the November/December 2005 issue of Diversity & The Bar®