Akerman LLP, a top 100 U.S. law firm serving clients across the Americas, has once again received a perfect, 100 percent rating on the 2016 Corporate Equality Index (CEI). The national benchmarking survey administered by the Human Rights Campaign Foundation measures the equality of corporate policies and practices for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) lawyers and staff.
The 2016 CEI rated more than 1,000 U.S. businesses and less than half received top recognition as leaders in LGBT workplace equality. Joining this select group, Akerman earned for a second consecutive year the "Best Place to Work for LGBT Equality" distinction, making it one of the top law firms for workplace equality and inclusion in the United States.
"At Akerman, we know that a diversity of ideas and experiences are essential to our culture of collaborative innovation and our continuing efforts to deliver an exceptional experience to our people, our clients and our communities," said Andrew Smulian, Akerman Chairman and CEO. "We are intensely focused on recruiting and retaining gifted lawyers and staff from all backgrounds and cultivating an environment that reflects the values and priorities of our firm."
"In this 2016 Corporate Equality Index, hundreds of major businesses responded to our new standards for workplace equality with exceptional leadership," said HRC Foundation Workplace Equality Program Director Deena Fidas. "Akerman not only meets these standards, but the firm goes above and beyond the call of duty, making commitment to equality a fundamental aspect of its values."
Launched in 2002, CEI has become a roadmap for U.S. businesses amid the evolution of LGBT workplace equality. To achieve a perfect score and the distinction of "Best Place to Work for LGBT Equality," companies must have fully inclusive equal employment opportunity policies, provide equal employment benefits, demonstrate organizational LGBT competency, evidence their commitment to equality publicly and exercise responsible citizenship.
In addition to receiving a perfect workplace equality rating this year, Akerman was ranked for another consecutive year among the nation's top 50 law firms for diversity by The American Lawyer, as well as no. 6 for Hispanic lawyers and no. 23 for female partners. The collective recognition Akerman has received is a testament to the firm's continuing hiring and professional development practices for a diverse group of men and women.
Akerman is at the forefront of innovative diversity and inclusion practices. The firm is among a select group of national law firms involved in the OnRamp Fellowship program, a pilot program for experienced women lawyers returning to practice after an extended hiatus. Akerman is also one of only 14 law firms to participate in the inaugural Women in Law Hackathon, a SharkTank style pitch competition created by the Diversity Lab in collaboration with Stanford Law School and Bloomberg Law. The program is designed to bring law firm partners from across the country together to generate innovative ideas and solutions that will lead to greater retention and advancement of experienced women lawyers.
Click here for more information on the 2016 Corporate Equality Index.
About Akerman LLP
Akerman LLP is a leading transactions and trial law firm known for its core strengths in middle market M&A, within the financial services and real estate industries, and for a diverse Latin America practice. With more than 600 lawyers and government affairs professionals and a network of 20 offices, it is ranked among the top 100 law firms in the United States by The American Lawyer (2015). Akerman also is ranked among the top 50 law firms for diversity in The American Lawyer's Diversity Scorecard (2015).