Employers across the United States are grappling with increased examination of their diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) efforts, following the U.S. Supreme Court decision in June to overturn affirmative action in university admissions. This new legal landscape has prompted several substantial law firms to form specialized teams, aiming to audit and defend employers’ actions in light of this reform.
In response to the new demands of their corporate clients, Davis Wright Tremaine and Simpson Thacher & Bartlett have recently announced their formation of dedicated lawyer parties, tackling clients’ DEI challenges. Alongside this, Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher unveiled their DEI task force at the end of July. These newly established groups are strategically composed of legal experts with a background in employment law, government investigations, DEI and ESG work, corporate governance, and appellate law.
This legal shift and law firms’ response reflect the escalating scrutiny of DEI initiatives within workplaces, which came after the Supreme Court’s ruling on Students for Fair Admissions v. Harvard. For a more complete understanding of the story, legal professionals can refer to the original article.