In the aftermath of legal actions aimed at two Am Law firms’ Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) programs, the largest law firms in Florida are cautiously handling their own DEI schemes. The backdrop of contentious state politics, characterized by Governor Ron DeSantis as a place where ‘wokeness’ ceases to exist, shapes their approach.
Legal action has been orchestrated against Perkins Coie and Morrison & Foerster by Edward Blum, a conservative activist known for his role in the lawsuit that concluded affirmative action in June. The suits allege that the firms’ 1L fellowship programs exclude “heterosexual and non-disabled applicants if they are white”.
Beyond the potential dismantling of DEI efforts by external interest groups, Adrian Felix, chair of the DEI committee at Bilzin Sumberg Baena Price & Axelrod, highlights a growing awareness of the state’s interest in DEI operations. Florida’s largest legal firms are thus cautiously navigating the ensuing legal and political waters.
This article is based on information available via Daily Business Review.