Wilson Elser places the highest premium on Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DEI). These are firm foundational values, critical to our success and in keeping with the enlightened perspectives of our clients.

With the steadfast support of firm leadership, Wilson Elser’s Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Committee develops programs and informs policies designed to recruit, empower and promote diverse attorneys and professional staff.

The Committee has made great strides in these regards. Indeed, Wilson Elser is Mansfield Certified Plus, the standards by which law firms measure their progress toward recruiting and retaining women lawyers, lawyers from underrepresented racial and ethnic groups, lawyers with disabilities and LGBTQIA+ lawyers. Wilson Elser also fares favorably in other DEI surveys and benchmarks.

Our commitment is not simple rhetoric; we “walk the talk.” Beyond the firm’s adherence to aspirational criteria such as those established through the Mansfield initiative, we offer the following related programs:

• “Diversity Day,” the Committee’s marquis event and the firm’s best-attended meeting each year, is held annually via simulcast. Led by a speaker or roundtable panelists, attorneys and staff from all offices explore issues relevant to diversity and inclusion and alternative means of advancing those objectives. The firm recently conducted its ninth annual Diversity Day with more than 700 participants.
• “Voices at Work," a virtual speaker series that features a diversity of voices highlighting various perspectives and lived experiences, including those related to workplace culture, health and wellness. The intention of the series is to foster thoughtful dialogue and strengthen our professional community. 
• An extensive Diversity & Inclusion training program comprising substantive education for new employees regarding related terms and principles as well as more-advanced programming for present attorneys and professional staff, managers and leadership.
• Diversity & Inclusion mentorship programs that enable associates and of counsel – especially those of diverse backgrounds – to obtain valuable insights and knowledge from senior colleagues so they may optimize their effectiveness as attorneys and advance their professional development. Mentoring is conducted both one-on-one and in group clusters.
• Sponsorship of a broad range of community and outreach organizations, including the Hispanic National Bar Association, National Asian Pacific American Bar Association, Diversity & Flexibility Alliance, Minority Corporate Counsel Association, Corporate Counsel Women of Color and National LGBT Bar Association, among others.

Employee Resource Groups

There are currently five active Employee Resource Groups (ERGs) operating as part of the firm’s broader Diversity & Inclusion initiative.

• Women Attorneys Valued & Empowered (WAVE) attracts, develops and retains women attorneys at Wilson Elser, enhancing and strengthening their skills and providing career-advancing opportunities in client service, business development and leadership. WAVE implements and oversees national and local programs that are mutually reinforcing and combine to serve the single purpose of advancing WAVE’s mission. Read more about WAVE.
• LGBTQIA+ Employee Resource Group is committed to creating an inclusive work environment for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender attorneys and staff of Wilson Elser where these individuals are able to succeed professionally while providing an important resource for clients seeking diverse perspectives. The Subcommittee reserves a “plus” designation for allies who have been and remain some of the most effective voices in advancing the interests of LGBTQIA individuals.

There are additional ERGs for Wilson Elser’s Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI), Black and Latino communities. They convene monthly, are guided by ERG-specific objectives and are responsible for a wide range of related programs.

Recognition & Achievements

Beyond those established by Diversity Lab relative to Mansfield certification, Wilson Elser outperforms most other law firms on many, if not most, related metrics. The firm is ranked #94 on The American Lawyer Diversity Scorecard; #43 on the Law360 Diversity Snapshot; #25 on the National Law Journal 500 Women in Law Scorecard; and #8 on the Law360 Glass Ceiling Report that tracks the number of women equity partners among law firms with more than 600 attorneys.