At Wilson Elser, we believe promoting diversity is critical to the success of our firm and key to the integrity and vitality of the legal field.  Bringing together people of different backgrounds, with diverse perspectives, fosters the innovative and creative thinking that enhances our response to the needs of our clients.

We believe in creating a work environment free of barriers and bias, where individual outlooks and talents are fostered and valued.  Our firm is committed to eliminating any impediment to hiring and professional growth based on race, marital status, citizenship, religion, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation or preference, disability, or any other category protected by equal employment opportunity laws.  We actively recruit candidates to promote diversity in our firm.

Our firm strives to mirror the rich diversity of our clients and of the communities in which we practice.  We promote an atmosphere in which all members of the firm are given the chance to develop professionally, while contributing their own ideas and views.  By doing these things, we believe that we will be better able to represent our clients in today's diverse, multicultural society.

We are particularly proud of the activities of our attorneys in promoting diversity, either by proactive endeavors in the arenas of social action, volunteerism and education, or by drawing on their own unique backgrounds for professional growth.  Such achievements assure our clients they are served by a firm with an inclusive mind-set and a rich array of talents.  Some of our ongoing activities include:

• Ricardo J. Cata, Partner in the Miami office, is a frequent lecturer and published author, both in Spanish and English, on Latin American legal issues.  In addition to various U.S. courts, he is also admitted before the U.S. District Court, District of Puerto Rico.
• Alan B. Friedberg, Partner in the White Plains office, is the 2005 recipient of the Diversity Award from the Franklin H. Williams Judicial Commission on Minorities, for promoting diversity and opportunities in the legal profession.
• Sylvere Hyacinthe, Partner in the White Plains, N.Y., office, does pro bono work for My Sisters' Place, a battered women's shelter in Westchester County.  She received an award from the Association of Black Women Attorneys in 2004 and is on the steering committee that is launching the New York state chapter of the National African American Insurance Association.
• Yoora Pak, Associate in the Washington D.C. office, has been named as a co-chair for the Labor and Employment Section of the National Asian Pacific American Bar Association (NAPABA). 
• Dennis Rhodes, Of Counsel in the San Francisco office, is a member of the advisory board of New Leaf Services for Our Community in that city.  New Leaf is a non-profit community organization providing support and outreach to gay and lesbian youth and seniors.
• Kathleen D. Wilkinson, Partner in the Philadelphia office, has been named to a state intergovernmental commission that will implement recommendations to eliminate racial, gender and ethnic bias in the Pennsylvania court system.

We have served in various capacities with bar associations that advocate the interests of diverse groups of attorneys and related communities.  These organizations include the African American, Asian American, National Asian Pacific American, and Korean American bar associations.  In addition, Wilson Elser participates in sponsoring an annual dinner for the Bay Area Lawyers for Individual Freedom (BALIF), the nation's oldest and largest bar association of lesbians, gay men, bisexuals and transgender persons in the field of law.

Wilson Elser also has been recognized as an employer that promotes work/life balance.  Our White Plains office was the recipient of the Family Friendly Employment Policy Award of the Westchester Women's Bar Association.  We also sponsor an in-house annual professional women's networking event.