July 23, 2018 / Press Release

Porter Wright signs The Columbus Commitment: Achieving Pay Equality

Porter Wright is proud to announce that, in conjunction with the firm’s Women’s Leadership Initiative and Diversity and Inclusion Committee, it has signed The Columbus Commitment: Achieving Pay Equality.

The Columbus Commitment, a voluntary pay equity commitment from the Columbus Women’s Commission, asks companies in Columbus to commit to learn about the gender pay gap, understand how race and other factors create even larger disparities and take action to build awareness of the unique challenges facing women in the workplace. By signing the commitment, Porter Wright acknowledges that the challenges associated with pay inequality reach far beyond the legal industry, and will allow the firm to hold itself to a higher standard when addressing those challenges.

“We are proud to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with Columbus companies and organizations in signing The Columbus Commitment in an effort to address the issue of pay inequality,” said Bob Tannous, the firm’s managing partner. He continued, “Our mission is to not simply create policies, but rather to truly live them well, and that includes all of us.”

Porter Wright is dedicated to diversity and inclusion as a strategic imperative that is critical to the firm’s success. Porter Wright’s Women’s Leadership Initiative, led by Partner Joyce Edelman, is a firm-wide initiative to promote the development of business by encouraging and partnering with women leaders inside and outside of the firm, to encourage the retention and promotion of women lawyers, and to highlight the diverse and inclusive culture of Porter Wright. Led by Partner-in-Charge of Diversity Karim Ali, the Diversity and Inclusion Committee is comprised of attorneys, administration and staff, and focuses on the creation and execution of goals and strategies related to implementing inclusion and diversity.

The two groups often work together, hosting impactful events such as a firm-wide implicit bias workshop and partnering with other Columbus law firms to address gender equity in the legal workplace. The firm's most recent event, an installment of the Women’s Leadership Initiative Speaker Series, featured the Columbus Women’s Commission’s Chair, Shannon Ginther, Esq. and Commissioner Bruce Wimbish, of Porter Wright, to discuss the work of the Columbus Women’s Commission including its focus on pay equity. “Embracing the goals of The Columbus Commitment complements the mission of our Women’s Leadership Initiative and Diversity and Inclusion Committee,” said Edelman. “We truly enjoyed Shannon’s visit and hearing insights from her and Bruce on the work of the Columbus Women’s Commission.”

The Columbus Women’s Commission, which acts as an advisory body to Mayor Andrew J. Ginther, is chaired by First Lady Shannon Ginther, Esq. and was created to dismantle barriers and reduce gender-based inequities to improve the economic position of women in our community.