Community

Fostering a culture that generates a sense of belonging, supports authenticity and intersectionality, and values our differences.

We consistently strive to foster a culture of inclusion. Our firmwide affinity groups and employee resource groups provide a platform to support and connect with one another. Our policies and practices—including policies around gender transition, pronouns, and name pronunciation—support authenticity. And, we reward efforts to foster DEI with billable hour credit.

DEI Billable Hour Credit

Fostering DEI at our law firm is everyone's business. With DEI billable hour credit, we recognize that—and reward it. We count up to 3% of an attorney’s annual billable hour requirement towards eligible DEI activities.

Affinity Groups

Our seven firmwide affinity groups—attorneys of color, first generation professionals, flexible hours, LGBTQ+, senior attorneys, veterans, and women—promote our community and provide a platform to connect with one another.

Employee Resource Groups

Our five staff employee resource groups – people of color (United Shades of DWT), LGBTQ+ (DWT P.R.I.D.E.), parents (A Grounded Place), individuals with disabilities (DWT Abilities & Allies Network), and women (DWShe) – exist as one aspect of the firm's commitment to fostering a culture of belonging at DWT. The groups work to create culturally responsive spaces for business professionals to discuss community-specific successes and challenges, cultivate authentic relationships and community, support professional development and mentorship opportunities, and provide feedback to firm leadership on DEI opportunities and/or concerns.

Office DEI Committees

Our Office DEI Committees exist in each of our offices as a local connection point and are part of DWT's culture of belonging. The Office DEI Committees engage in intentional programming and collaborations to develop strong staff-attorney relationships, psychological safety within the office, and impactful relationships with partner organizations who hold similar values to DWT.

Policies to Foster Inclusion

Inclusion is intentional and our policies reflect that. For example, our gender inclusivity policies include guidance on gender transition; we encourage the use of gender pronouns; we offer the option to include name pronunciations in emails; we participate in the Disability Equality Index Survey; we offer a one-year program matching associates preparing for parental leave with a transition partner for support; and much more.

Hear From Us

Brian Nixon, a partner in our Washington, D.C., office, describes how clients are helping drive change in the legal industry and how he brings a diverse bench to pitches and proposals. 
Monica Davis talks about how the firm's employee resource group for women staff, DWShe, which she chairs, fosters an environment of advancement, inclusion, understanding, and support. 
Davis Wright's onboarding and integration manager, Chris Boccuzzo, is a former co-chair of DWT PRIDE, the firm's employee resource group for LGBTQ+ staff and allies. He describes how the firm has recognized the group's value and importance.

Retreat in Chicago

Our LGBTQ+ and Attorneys of Color (AOC) Affinity Groups convened in Chicago in September 2022 for our first-ever stand-alone retreat. Approximately 130 people were in attendance from across the firm

COMMUNITY

GROWTH

EDUCATION

ENGAGEMENT