Diversity

As a leading law firm in a dynamic marketplace, Bingham knows the power of bringing together women and men of different races, religions, ethnicities and sexual orientations. Our diversity program is a critical element of our culture, our business and our values. We have achieved and sustained recognition by recruiting and promoting women and men from diverse backgrounds; their differences have made Bingham stronger, more energetic, dynamic and creative than if we were all alike. In turn, our clients are better served, more diverse across industries and more loyal.

The innovative practices that have resulted in sustainable efforts to increase diversity at Bingham include the following: 

• Our Diversity Committee, which is fully supported by firm leadership, works with partner, associate and staff representatives — as well as leaders of various areas such as recruiting, attorney development and marketing — to review area diversity; lawyer performance; and development and promotional opportunities for women, openly LGBT lawyers and lawyers of color.
• The committee is guided by our Diversity Action Plan, a work plan with measurable goals, accountability and timelines that was developed through a comprehensive internal evaluation and in consultation with all firm constituents.
• We are currently piloting formal Employee Resource Groups, networks of lawyers and staff with common interests that will be leveraged to design creative recruitment avenues, increase retention and promote top diverse talent at the firm.
• A series of Affinity Group Retreats for lawyers of color and openly gay and lesbian lawyers provide an opportunity for lawyers to spend concentrated time together discussing key diversity issues in workshops and coaching-oriented sessions.
• Our signature Celebrating Women series provides an opportunity for us to celebrate our female clients and friends at a variety of cultural events.
• We offer many scholarship and mentoring opportunities, all designed to enhance our recruitment, retention and development of diverse talent.

Public Recognition

Bingham is proud to be recognized publicly for our ongoing commitment to increasing diversity throughout our firm. We value our talent and are particularly proud of our ‘Best Place to Work’ distinctions. Our most recent examples include:

• For six years running (2005-2011) FORTUNE magazine has named us one of its 100 Best Companies to Work For. We are No. 28 on the current list.
• Bingham has been named by Multicultural Law to the following lists: the Top 100 Law Firms for Diversity, the Top 100 Law Firms for Women, and the Top 50 Law Firms for Partners.
• Bingham was recognized on Minority Law Journal’s Diversity Scorecard, which surveys the largest law firms in the U.S.
• Bingham scored 100 percent on the Human Rights Campaign Foundation’s Corporate Equality Index, the firm’s fourth-straight perfect score on the annual ranking of companies based on their treatment of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender employees, consumers and investors.