Barnes & Thornburg Selected for Lawyers of Color Industry Leader Diversity Award

Photo by Najah K. Photography

Barnes & Thornburg was selected by Lawyers of Color for a 2023 Industry Leader Diversity Award, which was presented at a May 18 reception in Washington, D.C. The firm was recognized for meeting all three of the Law Firm Diversity Awards’ criteria:

• Have at least one staff member with the word “equity,” “diversity,” or “inclusion” in their title.
• Have at least one attorney of color who is a managing partner, executive/management committee member, or practice group head
• Have at least 4 percent Black attorneys

Barnes & Thornburg has a team of three dedicated full-time to activating the firm’s commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI). Long-standing and active equity partner, Dawn R. Rosemond, serves as firm diversity partner and leads the charge in this regard, along with Brittney Lee, DEI director, and Adler Allwaters, DEI analyst. 

In addition to the DEI team, there is a firmwide DEI Committee, co-chaired by the firm diversity partner and firm managing partner, Andrew Detherage, plus seven Talent Resource Groups providing support, community and belonging for the firm’s talent from underrepresented backgrounds. There are 13 attorneys of color sitting on the management committee or holding practice group or department lead roles. Further, six percent of the firm’s attorneys are Black and/or African American. You can learn more about our firm by the numbers and beyond in our 2022 DEI Annual Report.

“We are thrilled to be named as a Lawyers of Color 2023 Industry Leader Diversity Award recipient. The criteria of this award and the recognition reflect years of hard work, but we’re not finished,” said Rosemond. “Retaining and advancing diverse talent dominates our focus, because if those we recruit do not stay and advance, then the commitment to DEI is not authentic.”

Lawyers of Color is a nonprofit devoted to promoting diversity in the legal profession and advancing democracy and equality in marginalized communities. Lawyers of Color champions attorneys of color and analyzes the intersection of the legal profession and social justice. The organization supplies critical research, career development, and brand marketing opportunities to its clients. 

With more than 800 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, Boston, California, Chicago, Delaware, Indiana, Michigan, Minneapolis, Nashville, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Philadelphia, Raleigh, Salt Lake City, South Florida, Texas and Washington, D.C. For more information, visit us online at www.btlaw.com or on Twitter @BTLawNews.