Sedgwick: One of the Best Places to Work for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Employees

Law Firm Earns Another Perfect Score in HRC Corporate Equality Index

SAN FRANCISCO, September 21, 2009 - Sedgwick Detert Moran & Arnold LLP is pleased to announce that for the second year in a row it has earned a perfect score in the 2010 Corporate Equality Index (CEI), released on September 14 by the Human Rights Campaign Foundation (HRC). This year’s CEI rated 590 businesses on a scale from 0 to 100 percent on their treatment of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender employees, consumers and investors. The 305 top-rated companies that earned a perfect score collectively employ more than 9 million full-time employees. These workers are protected from employment discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity or expression because of their employers’ policies on diversity training, health care and domestic partnership benefits.

“Our firm is honored to have received a perfect score from the HRC for the second year in a row,” said Sedgwick Chair Michael Tanenbaum. “Sedgwick is dedicated to advancing LGBT and all aspects of diversity throughout the firm. Attorneys from diverse backgrounds and experiences, working toward a common goal, offer the best opportunity to deliver the superior legal services that our clients expect.”

This is only the second time Sedgwick has participated in the CEI. Diversity Committee Chair Craig Barnes attributes the firm’s perfect scores on the 2009 and 2010 CEIs to policies that have been in place for some time.
“We have dedicated the firm’s resources and talent toward the recruitment, retention and advancement of highly skilled attorneys from diverse backgrounds and experiences,” said Barnes. “The benefits that Sedgwick has had in place for many years, and that the HRC considers as part of its review process, reflect this commitment.”

Sedgwick’s Diversity Committee, including 10 partners from various offices, works closely with the firm’s practice group leaders and managing partners to ensure Sedgwick recruits, retains and advances diverse lawyers. The Diversity Committee also collaborates with Sedgwick’s Women’s Forum and the firm’s affinity groups, which offer targeted mentoring, communication and advocacy on behalf of diverse attorneys. The affinity groups include the LGBT Action Committee, African American Lawyers Forum, Asian American Lawyers Forum and Hispanic and Latino American Lawyers Forum.

“I am very proud that our firm treats all our employees equally,” said James Holmes, Sedgwick partner, head of the firm’s LGBT Action Committee and member of the American Bar Association’s Commission on Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity. “Securing a perfect score on HRC’s index affirms for current and potential LGBT employees that this is a great place to work.”