CHICAGO – Dawn Rosemond, who spearheads Barnes & Thornburg’s diversity, equity and inclusion efforts as firm diversity partner, is a recipient of the 2021 ADL Midwest Women of Achievement Award, which was presented at a June 17 virtual event.
ADL (the Anti-Defamation League) created the award to honor women who “embody the spirit and philosophy of ADL through their efforts to improve communication and understanding among the diverse racial, religious and ethnic communities of Chicago.” ADL’s mission is to stop the defamation of the Jewish people, and to secure justice and fair treatment to all.
Other honorees who will be recognized include Becky Carroll, president and CEO of C-Strategies; Margaret Egan, executive vice president, general counsel and corporate secretary of Hyatt Hotels Corporation; Kim Metrick, vice president, employment law, legal operations and investigations at Walgreen Co.; and Emma Asante, vice president, special projects and community relations at NBC 5 Chicago and Telemundo Chicago.
“It is truly an honor to be recognized alongside these exceptional and dedicated women who are leaders in their respective fields,” said Rosemond, who has spent her entire 25-year legal career at Barnes & Thornburg and was the first Black female to make equity partner at the firm. “Barnes & Thornburg understands the commitment it takes to boldly promote the cultivation and support of all firm talent, regardless of their backgrounds.”
Since 2016, Rosemond has served as co-chair of the firm’s Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee, alongside, firm managing partner, Robert T. Grand and has been responsible for activating, the firm’s long-standing commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion. Under her leadership, the firm has among other things, aggressively recruited diverse talent at all levels, expanded diversity in the partnership and other leadership positions, began a Diverse Supplier Program, and created the Diversity Matters podcast, which she hosts.
“Dawn has made her mark in many different ways at Barnes & Thornburg, beginning with her legal career and now through her leadership of our firm’s diversity, equity and inclusion efforts,” Grand said. “She motivates all of us to do better and to recognize the different voices that are important to our work on behalf of clients. I am proud to know her and to have worked with her on these critical issues.”
In addition to her work as firm diversity partner, Rosemond has more than 25 years of experience providing advice to clients on a range of complex commercial litigation issues, including compliance, restrictive covenant enforcement, trade secret protection and management, intellectual property protection and policing and vendor and contractual disputes.
She is a published author (Boss Presence), a past recipient of the Indiana Torchbearer Award and previously named one of the most influential African-Americans in Northeast Indiana by INK Magazine. She is a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., and a committed mentor and community volunteer.
With more than 700 attorneys and other legal professionals, Barnes & Thornburg is one of the largest law firms in the country. The firm serves clients worldwide from offices in Atlanta, California, Chicago, Delaware, Indiana, Michigan, Minneapolis, New York, Ohio, Raleigh, Salt Lake City, Texas and Washington, D.C. For more information, visit us online at www.btlaw.com or on Twitter @BTLawNews.
