The Supreme Court's ruling this summer against affirmative action in college admissions has spawned lawsuits challenging corporate diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives, but Labor and Employment Partner Mishell Parreno Taylor told Law360 this week that well-planned DEI programs are still legal.

Parreno Taylor told the news outlet that a critical component of a robust DEI program remains widening the applicant pool when filling positions.

"Again, it's not taking something away from someone because of their race. It's essentially making sure that you're looking at the full pool, and ultimately picking the most qualified individual," Parreno Taylor told the news outlet. "There's absolutely no reason why the diverse candidate shouldn't be the best, right? They're not mutually exclusive."