The issue of diversity in legal education has taken center stage amidst a sea change in higher education policies in the United States. With the U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling on June 29, which invalidated affirmative action in higher education, law school leaders appear to be hesitant about discussing their diversity efforts. The elephant in the…
As the world grapples with the aftermath of the Oct. 7 deadly Hamas attack that saw more than 1,400 people killed in Israel, the corporate reaction to this devastating conflict has been notably quiet. Major corporations like Amazon, Eli Lilly, and Delta had swiftly issued public statements following the attack, however, the intensity and volume…
In a recent move, California has enacted legislation that will require venture capital firms to report the demographic data of the founding teams of the companies they invest in. This development came about after California Governor Gavin Newsom signed Senate Bill 54 (SB 54), also termed as Fair Investment Practices by Investment Advisers, on October…
In a recently developed case, the Fifth Circuit denied the petition challenging Nasdaq’s board diversity rule. According to a report by JD Supra, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) approved a Nasdaq proposal for new listing rules regarding board diversity and disclosure. The discussion commenced on Friday, August 6, 2021, with the introduction of a…
In a recent ruling, the Fifth Circuit has declined to examine a lawsuit that disputed a Nasdaq Stock Market rule. This rule mandates that corporations listed on the exchange disclose data illustrating their board’s diversity. The court classified the exchange as a private entity, asserting that it is beyond the reach of constitutional review. These…
In the aftermath of the Supreme Court’s landmark decision voiding affirmative action practices in America’s institutes of higher education, a wave of litigation challenging diversity and inclusion programs of private employers have surfaced nationwide. This comes as the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) urges employers to persist in creating workplaces that prize inclusion and are…
Threats targeting the legal industry’s diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs have continued apace, with two more high-profile law firms receiving menacing letters from an anti-affirmative action group. These incidents add to a growing list of such targeted actions this year, underscoring a rising and contentious issue within the legal sector. Spearheading this series of…
Non-financial misconduct in financial services firms has once again been brought to the forefront following the concurrent release of the Financial Conduct Authority’s (FCA) Consultation Paper 20/23, titled “Diversity and inclusion in the financial sector – working together to drive change“, and the Prudential Regulation Authority’s (PRA) Consultation Paper 18/23, titled “Diversity and inclusion in…
In this week’s update on American legal happenings, attention is drawn to several key areas in which state and federal regulators’ decisions noticeably impact across the United States. Major highlights include the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) and California’s joint effort against hidden fees, the widespread support by the Attorney General…
On September 18, 2023, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) announced a new Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility (DEIA) strategic plan for the fiscal years 2023 through 2026, as reported by legal services provider, JD Supra. This initiative underscores a commitment to DEIA that the SEC believes is critical to accomplishing its tripartite mission:…
In light of a recent Supreme Court decision, Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser has issued a formal legal opinion, asserting that workplace diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs remain lawful. Weiser’s opinion follows the Supreme Court ruling on Students for Fair Admissions, Inc. v. Harvard College, which determined that race-conscious admissions programs at colleges and…
In an important development, the National Center for Public Policy Research (NCPPR), a conservative think tank, has recently lost a lawsuit that was initiated against coffee giant Starbucks. The lawsuit directly challenged Starbucks’ dedication to its diversity and inclusion efforts, with allegations that these initiatives were not just discriminatory, but impaired the company’s financial performance….
The legal world recently witnessed an ethics panel launching an investigation into a judge’s criticisms regarding diversity. The probes specifically aim to scrutinize comments made about the positioning and promotion of individuals based on race and gender within the legal profession. The investigation, an unusual occurrence, placed diversity and inclusion in the law profession back…
The American Alliance for Equal Rights (AAER), an organization lead by noted anti-affirmative action activist Edward Blum, has agreed to drop its lawsuit against the law firm Perkins Cole, following changes to the firm’s diversity fellowship program. The announcement came in the wake of Perkins Cole’s statement which opened applications to all students rather than…
In May 2023, Sean “Diddy” Combs, a well-known figure in the music and entertainment industry, initiated a lawsuit against Diageo North America through his company, Combs Wines and Spirits LLC. The suit was filed in the New York Supreme Court. Combs’ lawsuit alleges that Diageo, a public company specializing in alcoholic beverages, has engaged in…
On a recent note, the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) and the Prudential Regulation Authority (PRA) in the UK have published consultation papers putting forth an array of measures meant to advance diversity and inclusion (D&I) within the UK’s financial sector. Their vision targets not only the establishment of healthier firm cultures but also the minimisation…
In a notable development in venture capital regulation, California Governor Gavin Newsom has reportedly signed a bill that instates new requirements for venture capitalists to report on the diversity of the businesses they invest in. This makes California the pioneer among states in requiring venture capital firms to disclose the race and gender of their…
Roger Wilkes has moved into the role of Chief Operating Officer of Perkins Coie, as reported on Wednesday. As part of Wilkes’ responsibilities, he will monitor several business functions within the firm, including areas such as finance, diversity and inclusion, recruitment, IT and real estate. Wilkes’ professional background wealthy of experiences in the global professional…
In the wake of a landmark affirmative action decision, there have been cases where businesses have had to defend their racial diversity and inclusion (DEI) programs in court. To counter legal attacks, some companies are strategically altering language surrounding eligibility criteria for their DEI programs, specifically downplaying references to minorities. The alteration of diversity program…
The American Alliance for Equal Rights (AAER), under the leadership of conservative legal activist Edward Blum, recently dropped its lawsuit against leading law firm Morrison & Foerster (MoFo). This judicial development came after MoFo amended its diversity fellowship eligibility criteria, which AAER had previously denounced as reverse discriminatory. AAER initiated legal proceedings against MoFo in…
In the realm of Biglaw, change is afoot after a recent diversity lawsuit. Perkins Coie, one of the major Biglaw firms implicated, is responding by recasting its fellowship. This course of action follows the Supreme Court’s landmark decision to disassembly affirmative action in higher education institutions. A critical detail, considering both Perkins and Morrison &…
In a compelling series of articles, a team of legal experts from Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP, which included Jamie Moore, Kristy Hart, Kelly Hagedorn, Scott Morrison, Cameron Carr, Emma Cameron, Anna O’Kelly, and Hanna Hewitt, dissect the critical issues and intricacies that UK startups must grapple with as they prepare for their next expansion…
Amidst the growing hype around artificial intelligence (AI), professionals are reminded of the time when the term “cloud” was the term du jour, finding its way into every offering and presentation. Such buzz often masks a lack of clarity about the real characteristics and potentials of today’s AI. With AI having its roots back to…
As legal professionals practice in an increasingly complex landscape, being at the forefront of evolving legislation is crucial. This includes pay equity requirements, an issue of growing importance and rapid transformation particularly in the United States. Women, people of color, and individuals with disabilities continue to earn significantly less than non-Hispanic white men for the…
We are pleased to inform you that the call for nominations for the 2024 Legalweek Leaders in Tech Law Awards is now open. The categories for this year’s awards have been redefined, inviting nominations across a broad spectrum of law firm, in-house, and provider categories. The deadline for award submissions has been extended to October…