Diversity Report 2015

DIVERSITY
REPORT 2015
Propelling Diversity Forward to Achieve Excellence
balch.com
ALABAMA | FLORIDA | GEORGIA | MISSISSIPPI | WASHINGTON, DC

Balch & Bingham is committed to maintaining a
diverse and inclusive workplace for all. We understand
that achieving greater diversity is essential to delivering
excellent service to our clients. We are dedicated to
providing a work environment where people of all
backgrounds, ages, colors, genders, races, national
origins, religions, sexual orientations or disabilities,
are valued for their perspectives, skills and talent.
DIVERSITY COMMITTEE MISSION STATEMENT
2

A LETTER FROM THE BALCH DIVERSITY CHAIR
The new year provides Balch with an opportunity to reflect on our commitment
to diversity and inclusion as we pave the way for a successful 2016. During
2015, the firm celebrated many great successes, including hosting our
inaugural diversity summit, “Diversity Dialogue in the Changing Workplace;”
participating in the commemoration of the Selma to Montgomery Voting
Rights March; organizing the fifth annual Susan B. Livingston Boot Camp for
Success – attended by more than 40 students; and celebrating many other
initiatives.
Moving forward, I believe it is critical to continue the firm’s efforts in partnering with our clients with
respect to diversity initiatives. We greatly appreciate their participation in our efforts and we are proud
to support theirs. In addition, I anticipate an increased focus on inclusion efforts to ensure that our firm
continues to be a place where differences are valued.
Beginning in 2016, I am pleased to announce that KELLY F. PATE, partner in our Montgomery office and
member of the Labor & Employment and Litigation Sections, will join me as the co-chair of the Diversity
Committee. Kelly’s insight and passion for supporting diversity in our profession will greatly benefit our
committee and the firm.
As always, we welcome your feedback. Please email me at dkauffman@balch.com.
Warmest regards,
DIVERSITY
COMMITTEE
MEMBERS
Leslie Allen
Matthew Ames
Lisa Arrington
Steven Burns
Tashwanda Pinchback Dixon
Mike Edwards
Max Galiana
Doug Kauffman
Peter LeJeune
David Miceli
Jenelle R. McGraw
Kelly Pate
Riley Roby
Mary Forman Samuels
Barrie Wilson
Doug Kauffman
Chair of Diversity
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2015 YEAR IN REVIEW
We are proud of our work in 2015, which yielded many community partnerships, firm-hosted events and a steadfast
commitment to building a more diverse legal community. Please find below our highlights.
WINTER 2015 SPRING 2015
»»
Balch Joins the Magic City Bar Association in Celebrating 30 Years of
Existence
»»
Balch Partners, Conrad Anderson IV and Chad A. Pilcher, Proudly Serve
in Leadership Roles to Help Support Alabama Classic Foundation
»»
Susan B. Livingston Honored Posthumously by the Birmingham Bar
Association with the Nina Miglionico “Paving the Way” Leadership Award
»»
Famed American Sports Historian and Author, Keith Dunnavant,
Addresses Balch’s Black History Month Luncheon
»»
Balch Joins the Nation in Commemorating the Selma
to Montgomery Voting Rights March
»»
Balch Associate Tashwanda Pinchback Dixon Returns to Alma Mater
to Honor Vanderbilt Law School’s First African-American Students at
Inaugural BLSA Alumni Event
»»
Alabama Diversity Council’s Alabama Women in Leadership Symposium
Educates Balch Staff and Attorneys on the Power of Women in the
Workplace
»»
Momentum Women’s Breakfast in Honor of Women’s History Month
»»
Balch Celebrates the University of Alabama’s 14th Annual BLSA
Scholarship Banquet
Bryan Stevenson, equal justice initiative
director, speaking at the Heroes Breakfast in
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Montgomery, Ala., on Wednesday, March 25.
Birmingham office members Kathy Collier,
Susan Nettles Han, Lisa Arrington and
Jenelle Evans McGraw.
Tashwanda Pinchback Dixon,
associate in Balch’s Atlanta office
and member of the firm’s Labor
& Employment and Litigation
Sections, at Vanderbilt Law
School’s BLSA Alumni event.

Judge Carlton Reeves and Armin
J. Moeller, Jr., partner in the
firm’s Jackson office and member
of the Labor & Employment
Section.
Balch attorneys and clients
at Serenbe Farms cooking
an organic dinner.
SUMMER 2015 FALL 2015
»»
Kimberly Bell Named to the National Black Lawyers’ Top 40 Under 40
Organization
»»
Minority Pre-Law Conference, an organization that Balch Associate Lee
Johnsey is an active member of, Educates Alabama Students About
Civil and Criminal Justice System
»»
Atlanta Female Attorneys Combine Women’s Initiative Event with
Marketing for “Plot to Plate” Event
»»
Diversity Dialogue in the Changing Workplace
»»
Balch Hosts Fifth Annual Susan B. Livingston Boot Camp for Success
»»
Balch’s Montgomery Office Proudly Hosts and Celebrates Judge Gordon
A. Martin, Jr., with the Mississippi Center for Justice
»»
Birmingham Business Journal’s Fifth Annual Women’s Summit Empowers
Women with Tools for Success
»»
Women’s Co-Mentoring Program Kick-Off Event Focuses on Women
and Wealth
»»
The Women’s Fund of Greater Birmingham Smart Party
»»
Balch Celebrates Diversity at Montgomery Area Chamber of Commerce’s
Diversity Summit
»»
The Future of Workplace Inclusion: LGBT Equality
2015 Susan B. Livingston Boot Camp for Success attendees.
»»
Balch Honors Montgomery Bus Boycott and Civil Rights Movement
Jonathan Porter, vice
president of Human
Resources and Ethics at
Alabama Power, is joined by
a panel of Alabama-based
human resources leaders.
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“It was an unforgettable experience
and opportunity to celebrate such
a momentous historical event that
impacted not only our city, but state,
nation and world as well.”
RILEY ROBY, PARTNER IN THE FIRM’S MONTGOMERY OFFICE
AND MEMBER OF THE REAL ESTATE, LENDING AND
COMMERCIAL PRACTICE GROUP
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SERVING OUR COMMUNITY
BALCH HONORS MONTGOMERY BUS BOYCOTT
AND CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT
In a special program honoring the 60th Anniversary of the Montgomery Bus
Boycott, Balch proudly supported the National Bar Association, the oldest
and largest association of black lawyers, judges and law students in the United
States, and the Tuskegee Human & Civil Rights Multicultural Center’s joint
event, “The Role Lawyers Played in the Montgomery Bus Boycott and Civil
Rights Movement.” Taking place on Nov. 30 and Dec. 1, 2015, the two-day
program included the re-enactment of the arrest of Rosa Parks and the
unveiling of a historic marker marking the place of her arrest; a tour of the
Tuskegee History Center; a public event at Dexter Avenue King Memorial
Baptist Church; and a two-hour CLE seminar hosted by the Alabama Lawyers
Association at Alabama State University.
Distinguished speakers, among many distinguished professionals, included:
• Former Secretary of State Hilary Clinton
• Fred Gray, Sr., civil rights attorney who represented Rosa Parks
• Benjamin L. Crump, 2015 president of the National Bar Association and
civil rights attorney
BALCH JOINS IN COMMEMORATING THE SELMA
TO MONTGOMERY VOTING RIGHTS MARCH
In March, Balch was a proud sponsor of the “Dream Marches On” events,
commemorating the Selma to Montgomery Voting Rights March. “Dream
Marches On” events included several activities such as the Montgomery
Gala & Concert featuring Grammy-award-winning Patti LaBelle to honor
the Selma to Montgomery Voting Rights March, the Heroes Breakfast and
the 50th anniversary of Bloody Sunday. Balch attorneys and staff enjoyed
participating in several of the events and learning about this historical
movement’s impact on our nation.
“It was a great honor and privilege to support the ‘Dream Marches On’
events in Montgomery and Selma,” said RILEY ROBY, partner in the firm’s
Montgomery office and member of the Real Estate, Lending and Commercial
Practice Group.
“Dream Marches On” was hosted by the City of Montgomery, Montgomery
Area Chamber of Commerce Convention and Visitor Bureau, City of Selma,
Selma-Dallas County Tourism and Selma to Montgomery National Historic
Trail.
• Paulette Brown, 2015 American Bar Association president (Brown is the
first African-American female to serve in this leadership position.)
• The Hon. U. W. Clemon, former Chief Judge for the Northern District
of Alabama
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“Our plan for the Women’s Co-Mentoring
Program is to provide networking
opportunities for our women attorneys and
their clients, and to present speakers on topics
of interest to members of the program.”
LESLIE GARRETT ALLEN, PARTNER IN THE FIRM’S BIRMINGHAM
OFFICE AND MEMBER OF THE ENERGY PRACTICE GROUP
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CAREER DEVELOPMENT
BALCH HOSTS FIFTH ANNUAL SUSAN B.
LIVINGSTON BOOT CAMP FOR SUCCESS
This summer, Balch hosted its fifth annual Susan B. Livingston Boot Camp
for Success in our Birmingham office with a goal to promote diversity in the
legal profession by supporting future attorneys from diverse and underrepresented
backgrounds starting from the beginning of their careers. The
program is named in honor of the late Susan B. Livingston, former Balch
partner and chair of the diversity committee, who kicked off the program in
2011 with approximately 20 law students from Cumberland School of Law.
The program has now grown to include students from 12 different law schools
across Balch’s footprint, including: Cumberland School of Law, Emory
University, Georgia State University, Mercer University, the University of
Alabama, University of Florida and Vanderbilt University.
The seminar, led by Balch attorneys, corporate leaders and other accomplished
attorneys from a wide variety of backgrounds and career paths included candid
presentations, panel discussions and small-group roundtable discussions led
by seasoned attorneys who offered their perspectives on how students can
succeed academically and professionally. Other sessions included a mock law
class, tips on how to study and succeed during the first year of law school,
and a session that featured experienced attorneys sharing advice about the
job search process, specifically focused on developing interview skills and
avoiding common missteps.
"For somebody who doesn't have any lawyers
in the family - no one who has been to law
school - this has been a great experience
for me to ask questions, to be able to hear
questions of my peers and to get ideas of
what to do and what not to do, especially
in this first year."
C.J. DONALD, SUSAN B. LIVINGSTON
BOOT CAMP FOR SUCCESS ATTENDEE
"I think Boot Camp has been really valuable to
just give you an inside of what it takes to work
at a big firm ... how to get that first interview
and put yourself out there as a law student
and distinguish yourself, and get that first job."
KRISTEN WILSON, SUSAN B. LIVINGSTON BOOT
CAMP FOR SUCCESS ATTENDEE
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“Our diversity summit provided an opportunity for
our firm and our peers to thoughtfully discuss the
importance of diversity and inclusion, its effect on
businesses’ bottom lines and the legality behind
messaging and initiatives.”
TASHWANDA PINCHBACK DIXON, ASSOCIATE IN THE FIRM’S
ATLANTA OFFICE AND MEMBER OF THE LABOR & EMPLOYMENT
AND LITIGATION SECTIONS
10

PROMOTING EQUALITY AND INCLUSION IN THE WORKPLACE
DIVERSITY DIALOGUE IN THE CHANGING
WORKPLACE
On June 19, 2015, Balch hosted its inaugural diversity summit, “Diversity
Dialogue in the Changing Workplace.” The summit included three sessions
that provided thoughtful conversations surrounding diversity and inclusion in
the workplace, with stimulating discussions following each panel.
THE FIRST SESSION featured a discussion entitled “How Organizations
are Now Approaching Diversity and Inclusion” led by panelists Lajuana
Bradford, senior vice president, director of corporate diversity and public
affairs at Regions Financial Corporation; Dr. Conrado Marion-Landais,
Ph.D., member of Georgia Power’s Diversity and Inclusion organization; and
Dr. Overtoun Jenda, associate provost for diversity and multicultural affairs
at Auburn University. Tashwanda Pinchback Dixon, associate in the firm’s
Atlanta office and member of the Labor & Employment and Litigation
Sections, served as a moderator.
THE SECOND SESSION was led by Dr. Charles Carson, associate dean
of Brock School of Business at Samford University. A two-time recipient of
the Brock School of Business’ Outstanding Scholarship Award, Dr. Carson
has published more than 25 peer-reviewed articles in academic journals.
Several of his articles have been published in leading academic journals such
as Educational and Psychological Measurement, Management Decision,
Journal of Managerial Issues and Human Performance. Dr. Carson discussed
how diversity impacts a business’s bottom line in his discussion entitled
“Providing the Bottom Line Business Case for Diversity.”
THE FUTURE OF WORKPLACE INCLUSION:
LGBT EQUALITY
Human Rights Campaign (HRC)’s Alabama chapter joined forces with
well-respected corporations across the region, including Balch, to convene
for its first-ever summit discussing the business case for LGBT inclusion
in Alabama workplaces. Through featured speakers, panel discussions, and
breakout sessions, the November 12 gathering allowed private sector leaders
the opportunity to discuss LGBT-friendly workplace policies and practices
that can help companies better attract and retain the nation’s best talent
and remain competitive in an increasingly global marketplace. A recent
HRC survey discussing LGBT Alabamians found that nearly 40 percent
of respondents have experienced harassment at work, and 25 percent have
experienced employment discrimination. We are proud to stand alongside
others in our community who supported the event including, BBVA Compass,
Ameriprise Financial Inc., Books-A-Million, Alabama Power, HealthSouth
and Protective Life Insurance Company. Collectively, these companies have
more than 10,000 employees across ten cities throughout Alabama.
THE FINAL SESSION, “Keeping Diversity Messaging and Initiatives Legal,”
was led by DOUG KAUFFMAN and KELLY PATE.
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Q&A WITH
KELLY PATE
KELLY PATE, partner in the firm’s
Montgomery office and member of the
Labor & Employment and Litigation
Sections, will join Doug Kauffman as the co-chair
of the Diversity Committee in 2016.
12

Q: WHAT SUCCESSFUL STRATEGIES HAVE YOU
SEEN BUSINESS USE TO ENCOURAGE THE
DEVELOPMENT OF DIVERSE LEADERS?
Investing in it. Tangible investments in diversity and inclusion not just because
it is the right thing to do, but because it is a good business decision yield
better returns. Businesses that incorporate this strategy seem better able
to attract, cultivate and retain diverse leaders. For example, businesses may
enter customer markets that are diverse or recruit from geographically
diverse areas. Those positive actions may help create a culture that promotes
the development of diverse leaders.
Q: HOW WILL BALCH’S EFFORTS IN 2016 HELP
OVERCOME THE CHALLENGES FACING
DIVERSITY IN THE LEGAL PROFESSION?
According to the Alabama bar president, the state bar is 70% male and 92%
Caucasian and most of the state’s lawyers began practicing in the 2000s.
Continued efforts to support and encourage diversity and inclusion are
necessary in our profession at large. Our lawyers are engaged throughout the
state and the nation in professional organizations. We have the opportunity
to recruit and cultivate our own diverse leaders and set an example for the
profession.
Q: WHAT ARE YOUR GOALS FOR THE DIVERSITY
COMMITTEE IN 2016?
I am looking forward to continued efforts internally and externally to create,
maintain, and strengthen a diverse and inclusive workplace in our firm and
our profession. Fulfilling our commitment to this mission means more than
having an eloquent statement, it means that we must work hard to live it in
demonstrable ways each day with our partners, associates, and staff, with
our industry colleagues, with our clients, and within our communities. Our
profession and our clients are better served when we value and encourage
diversity.
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COMING IN 2016
BALCH AND SOUTHERN COMPANY PARTNER TO OFFER
JOINT SUMMER CLERKSHIP
During the summer of 2016, Balch and the Southern Company will offer a joint
clerkship to one qualified student. Students from Balch’s 2015 Susan B. Livingston
Boot Camp for Success class will have the first opportunity to apply, followed by
an open admission process for applicants outside of the 2015 Boot Camp class.
The student chosen for this opportunity will spend six weeks as a law clerk with
Balch followed by three weeks working in-house within the legal department of
the Southern Company. Interested students should send an up-to-date resume
and cover letter to BARRIE WILSON at bwilson@balch.com with the subject line
of email entitled “Balch/Southern Company Clerkship.”
Balch & Bingham looks
forward to 2016 with a
continued dedication to
our colleagues, clients and
communities.
WOMEN’S CO-MENTORING PROGRAM ENCOURAGES
MENTORSHIP AMONG BALCH FEMALE ATTORNEYS AND
STAFF
A key program for Balch’s women attorneys is the firm’s Co-Mentoring Program.
The program has mentored more than 54 women since its start in 2012,
providing networking opportunities and support for women attorneys in the firm.
The program pairs seasoned attorneys with new attorneys to generate positive
mentoring relationships that benefit all involved.
In 2016, the program will combine small group and seminar meetings. Every other
month, small groups of 7-8 participants will meet for lunch or dinner to discuss
relevant issues and share their experiences and advice. During alternate months,
the program will meet as a larger group to hear speakers and discuss topics as a
collective group.
No representation is made that the quality of the legal
services to be performed is greater than the quality of
legal services performed by other lawyers.
Copyright © 2015 Balch & Bingham LLP