Commitment to Diversity - Baker & Hostetler LLP

Diversity CommitteeIn 1994, the Firm instituted a Diversity Task Force,which has since evolved into a standing committee. TheDiversity Committee includes members of the PolicyCommittee, Office Managing Partners, Partners andAssociates. Exemplifying the goal of true diversity, thecommittee includes minorities, non-minorities, men andwomen, lawyers and staff members.Diversity subcommittees focus on four key topics:— Lateral Recruiting— Law School Recruiting— Paul D. White Scholarship and Diversity Fellowship— Marketing and RetentionIn addition to their regular conference calls to discussinitiatives and progress, the Diversity Committee hostedMauricio Velásquez, President and CEO of The DiversityTraining Group, at two Firm events. His presentation,“Cultural Competence,” at the 2008 Partners Retreatfocused on raising awareness of cultural differencesto ensure respect for all people. In his April 2008presentation to the Diversity Committee, “DiversityMatters: Taking Action,” Mr. Velásquez provided insightinto best practices for creating, implementing andmaintaining diversity initiatives and programs as theCommittee reviewed and refined the Firm’s diversitystrategy.In March 2009, the Diversity subcommittees spentsignificant time evaluating current initiatives andproposed revised or new action items to be undertakenby the Firm in both the short and long-term, as part of thecontinuing effort to improve the hiring, development andretention of minority and women attorneys.