As part of Porter Wright’s continuing efforts to promote diversity, equity and inclusion, the firm has established an employee resource group open to those who are members or allies of the LGBTQ+ community. The Equality Alliance focuses on outreach to the LGBTQ+ community, internal practices, policies and procedures, professional development, business development, and recruiting and retention among LGBTQ+ attorneys and staff. The steering committee includes representatives from all Porter Wright offices. Their primary initiative is to bring together attorneys and staff who are passionate and committed to this firm wide effort.
The Equality Alliance worked with firm leadership to change or update policies to address the needs of the LGBTQ+ community, including updating the non-discrimination policy to be more inclusive, adding personal pronouns to biography pages and email signatures, and creating policies for vendor/supplier non-discrimination, gender affirming bathroom policy and supportive policy and procedures for transitioning in the workplace.
The group spearheaded joining the Human Rights Campaign Business Coalition for Equality, the HRC Corporate Equality Index and the Mansfield Rule law firm diversity program. It provides each office opportunities to support LGBTQ+ businesses, offer information and education on LGBTQ+ issues as well as coordinating community and Porter Wright Pride events.
LGBTQ+ Business Practice Group
The Equality Alliance is proud to support the firm’s LGBTQ+ Business practice group. Porter Wright is uniquely qualified to counsel LGBTQ+ businesses because many of the attorneys who make up the firm’s LGBTQ+ practice are LGBTQ+ themselves. They understand how important it is for the gay business community to have access to outstanding legal representation. They bring experience advising LGBTQ+ businesses in areas including real estate development, professional services, commercial and residential property acquisition and management, nonprofit organizations, personal care and hospitality.
