Engagement
We must work as a collective. By collaborating with clients around our commitment to DEI, supporting external professional development opportunities for underrepresented attorneys, expanding our supplier diversity efforts, and supporting and sponsoring affinity bar organizations and other diversity organizations, we are committed to doing this work together.
Our Efforts
Client DEI Surveys
DWT completes over 170+ DEI client and industry surveys annually. We leverage our responses for client DEI surveys to connect with our clients about how we can support their DEI journey and business objectives.
These conversations have resulted in furthering DEI opportunities within the legal industry, such as joint partnership on DEI initiatives to discussing staffing and access to leadership roles on the client's matters.
External Collaborations
We sponsor and support a number of national minority bar and external diversity organizations. We support our underrepresented attorneys participating in external professional development programs hosted by these organizations. For many national affinity organization conferences, we host client-focused events to provide opportunities for up-and-coming underrepresented attorneys to connect and deepen our relationships with key clients. These events have been critical to the business development of our diverse attorneys.
- Corporate Counsel Women of Color (CCWC)
- Hispanic National Bar Association (HNBA)
- LGBTQ+ Bar Association
- National Association of Women Lawyers (NAWL)
- National Asian Pacific American Bar Association (NAPABA)
- National Bar Association (NBA)
- South Asian Bar Association (SABA)
- Charting Your Own Course (CYOC)
- Diversity & Flexibility Alliance (DFA)
- Leadership Council for Legal Diversity (LCLD)
- Minority Corporate Counsel Association (MCCA)
- Institute for Inclusion in the Legal Profession (IILP)
- Law Firm Anti-Racism Alliance (LFAA)
- J.E.D.I Collaborative
- New York City Bar Office of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Belonging
- Association of Law Firm Diversity Professionals (ALFDP)
Client Summits
Supplier Diversity
DWT has a supplier diversity program focused on:
- Monitoring our spend with diverse businesses
- Obtaining from existing and prospective suppliers an acknowledgement of and commitment to corporate DEI objectives
- Supporting the growth of communities in which we do business
Since 2020, at least 5% of our total purchases were made from diverse businesses.
DEI Client Engagement Committee
Project W
Hear From Us
Amy Flint, senior DEI engagement manager at Davis Wright, discusses how investment in DEI has grown exponentially at the firm and is serving as an important connection point and conversation channel with clients.
Affinity Bar Organizations
"Serving as a board member of ABAW feels like home. Practicing law is hard, but finding other attorneys with shared experiences as mine makes it easier. We can relate. And, most importantly, through events and sponsorships, we work on extending the opportunities we've received to the next generation of lawyers."
– Danielle Kim, Associate & Board Member, Asian Bar Association of Washington
"Minority bar associations have been transformative in my professional journey. These organizations offer a sanctuary to share our unique experiences and challenges while providing mentorship, leadership training, and advocacy to overcome systemic barriers. The sense of community and belonging they foster is invaluable, reminding us that we are not alone in our experiences and that our voices matter. I am a better lawyer with a stronger network thanks to my participation in these organizations."
– Shannon McNeal, Partner