RALEIGH, N.C. – May 19, 2022 – Ogletree Deakins, one of the largest labor and employment law firms representing management, is pleased to announce that the firm’s managing shareholder C. Matthew (Matt) Keen has pledged his personal commitment to the Leadership Council on Legal Diversity’s (LCLD) Leaders at the Front initiative. Through this program, LCLD encourages to leaders in the legal industry to make personal commitments to DEI and implement organizational changes that are specific, meaningful and measurable. The Leaders and the Front initiative is designed to dismantle systemic barriers preventing underrepresented attorneys from achieving the highest levels of leadership within law firms and corporate legal departments.
“Through my personal and organizational pledges to the LCLD, I am proud to share a framework that actively empowers our diverse attorneys to continue to succeed and thrive at Ogletree Deakins and in the legal profession,” said Matt Keen, managing shareholder of Ogletree Deakins. “The firm is committed to our mission of advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion.”
In accordance with Keen’s pledge, Ogletree Deakins has several programs and initiatives intended to promoting and sustaining a vibrant, diverse, and inclusive culture. Chaired by Keen, the Diversity and Inclusion Steering Committee helps develop and implement diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives. This includes the firm’s six business resource groups, which support the growth and advancement of its members through professional development, business development, and networking opportunities. Our professional development programs are designed to support the advancement and retention of our diverse attorneys. Ogletree Deakins is a participant in the Mansfield Rule 5.0 Certification process, which aims to boost the representation of historically underrepresented lawyers in law firm leadership.
The firm is also a proud official partner of The Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA), focused on empowering women and encouraging their self-discovery and leadership.
Keen’s pledge is available here.
About Ogletree Deakins
Ogletree Deakins is one of the largest labor and employment law firms representing management in all types of employment-related legal matters. Premier client service, as outlined in the firm’s Client Pledge, is one of the firm’s top priorities and a cornerstone of its core values. U.S. News – Best Lawyers® “Best Law Firms” has named Ogletree Deakins a “Law Firm of the Year” for 11 consecutive years. In 2022, the publication named Ogletree Deakins its “Law Firm of the Year” in the Employment Law – Management category. Ogletree Deakins has more than 900 attorneys located in 53 offices across the United States and in Europe, Canada, and Mexico. The firm represents a diverse range of clients, including many of the Fortune 50 companies in the U.S. www.ogletree.com
The Leadership Council on Legal Diversity is an organization of more than 400 corporate chief legal officers and law firm managing partners—the leadership of the profession—who have pledged themselves, through our Leaders at the Front initiative and other means, to creating a truly diverse U.S. legal profession. Our action programs are designed to attract, inspire, and nurture the talent in society and within our organizations, thereby helping a new and more diverse generation of attorneys ascend to positions of leadership. By producing tangible results in our institutions, we work to promote inclusiveness in our organizations, our circles of influence, and our society, with the ultimate goal of building a more equitable and diverse legal profession.