This profile is part of a series about some local businesses that have scored perfectly on HRC'S Corporate Equality Index
Hinshaw & Culbertson LLP is among 89 law firms ( out of a total of 366 companies and firms ) to achieve a 100-percent score on the Human Rights Campaign's ( HRC ) Corporate Equality Index ( CEI ) and earn the distinction of "Best Places to Work for LGBT Equality". This is the sixth year in a row that the firm has received a perfect score on HRC's CEI.
One of the ways that Hinshaw & Culbertson LLP achieves a perfect score is through its LGBT Affinity Network group. The LGBT Affinity Network is among five affinity networksAsian Pacific American, Black, Hispanic/Latino and Womenthat were created to enhance the firms diversity mission and goals as well as promote diversity and inclusion within the firm.
"We founded the affinity networks because we felt that they were important to have as a way to make people feel welcome, for skill development, from a marketing standpoint and any other need or opportunity that arises," said Leslie Richards-Yellen Esq., partner and chief diversity and inclusion officer. "The LGBT group in particular is run beautifully and they execute things wonderfully. They have an almost a 100 percent retention rate and that speaks volumes about the group. They're an example of what any affinity group can be at any workplace."
Richards-Yellen is the first chief diversity and inclusion officer for the company and third chair of the diversity and inclusion committee. "Our founding chair was Jeff Glass, who is a straight, white male, and he laid a fabulous foundation for the networks and diversity and inclusion committee," said Richards-Yellen.
To ensure that all of the affinity groups would have an equal footing, Richards-Yellen launched them at the same time: July 2008.
Of the 13 members of the LGBT Affinity Network group, four work out of the Chicago officeTodd Young, Esq. ( partner and chair of the group ), Cecilia Horan, Esq. ( partner ), David Alfini, Esq. ( partner ) and Jason Santos, Esq. ( associate ). The members include six partners, five associates and two counsel.
Young said the LGBT Affinity Network group does three things: help document LGBT diversity successes which includes the HRC CEI, represent the firm by joining boards and participating in outward facing activities as openly LGBT members of the firm and internal resource programming that's not just aimed at LGBT issues.
"The group has grown exponentially over the years. It started out with Todd and me and luckily there were some other people who were interested in joining our group. We're very lucky to be in such a supportive environment here at the firm," said Horan. "I do a lot of mentoring here and also in my role as the Vice President of the Lesbian and Gay Bar Association of Chicago ( LAGBAC ). I wish I had a gay mentor when I was just starting out as a lawyer."
"I think one of the biggest differences our group has made is it's given allies and friends permission to talk to us as full human beings. All of our colleagues are supportive, kind and helpful but by having a visible group and the CEI it's now made it easy for allies at the firm to ask me about my husband," said Young. "I think that even the most well meaning straight person in the world might not be sure about how to interact with LGBT colleagues. This group is able to say you have permission to talk to us how you would talk to everyone else throughout the day. It sounds like a really tiny thing but I think it's huge."
"The group has been a great resource for me. When you work for a big firm as an associate you get work from the partners. Most partners want to work with associates that they feel comfortable and easy to work with and a lot of that comes from having a personal connection," said Santos. "My time here has been great. I've been able to talk about my life including the fact that I have a partner of eight years."
"Every year the chairman of the firm sends out an email to the entire firm that says how proud he is that we've gotten a perfect score again. I think that changes the dialogue within the firm," said Alfini. "I'm the one who helped work with the administration on the HRC rating. I never thought I'd be sitting down with straight people at my firm talking about being gay and the importance of having certain benchmarks that we need to meet as a firm."
"I think the CEI is brilliant. As an African-American woman, I wish there was a similar tool for my community because it lays out all the things that make it difficult for LGBT people to navigate the world. Also, once you get a 100 percent you don't want to go backwards," said Richards-Yellen. "It's genius as a measurement tool and it's also a political tool. The LGBT community's economic power is unmatched and because of that it makes the CEI even more powerful. It's not just economic power it's group loyalty. I've seen it with people getting work."
The LGBT Affinity Network members meet quarterly and over the past two years the group has hosted a number of events including "Growing Your Family: An LGBT Perspective", "Bullying and Pride Don't Mix", "What's New in Lawyer Regulation" ( annual event ), "Put a Ring On It: Get 'Married' Here Today" ( annual event ), 2013 LAGBAC Pride Judges Reception, Hinshaw University CLE ( Continuing Legal Education ) on Professionalism and "The Fight for Marriage Equality in Illinois Darby v. Orr". They will be holding another marriage-equality event on May 14.
"From a marketing standpoint you are looking at individuals [all of the LGBT Affinity Network members] who have an intense workload and the amount of devotion that they give and the passion behind all of the ideas they have for this firm are astounding," said Dusty Holoubek, marketing communications manager. "As far as recruitment, we have a Diversity and Inclusion Report that outlines all the ways that we foster diversity and inclusion and it shows potential employees that our firm wants you here and will support you."
"Dusty and I were having lunch recently and we were talking about the programming the firm was going to sponsor that is targeted to the LGBT community in Chicago and nationwide. I thought, 'My Godthis is an ally in our marketing department who is putting resources towards that. This is amazing,'" said Alfini. "It's really changed my life and my career. When you can be honest and open about yourself and who you are then you really are a better lawyer. You are 100 percent in the game as opposed to holding something back."
"I'm delighted so many of our attorneys stretch themselves beyond the demands of the professions by becoming leaders and active members of their communities," said Jennifer Jackson, diversity and inclusion program coordinator. "I'm proud that my role at the firm directly supports their efforts to advance diversity in the legal profession and build community organizations."
See www.hinshawlaw.com/diversity.html for more information.