DIVERSITY & INCLUSION

Diversity, equity and inclusion are core values at Buchanan.

Our leadership, attorneys, government relations professionals and staff recognize that we are strengthened by our commitment to recruiting, developing, retaining and promoting a diverse workforce while fostering an inclusive culture. Our goal is to create an atmosphere where the unique experiences and talent of our team sustain the firm’s vitality and enrich our legal services to provide the highest level of legal services to our clients.

Diversity & Inclusion Initiatives

Our firm has a robust offering of D&I initiatives aimed at creating a workplace where all of our employees can succeed and feel valued. Our dedication to fostering an environment rich with diverse backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives is best demonstrated by the following programs and initiatives:

Supplier Diversity

Buchanan embraces diversity at all levels. To this end, the firm maintains a defined supplier diversity program that promotes and tracks the use of supplier relationships across the entire firm. We are proud to have more than 225 diverse suppliers currently engaged in this program which is representative of the diverse clients we serve.

Affinity Groups

All Buchanan employees are welcome and encouraged to participate in a number of affinity groups which exist as a way to connect through commonalities and interests, while advancing D&I and celebrating each and every employee’s uniqueness. The firm hosts monthly programming to increase awareness of each of these resource groups.

Our affinity groups are formed around common identities and open to all employees. For its members, these groups offer opportunities for mentoring, networking and development on the personal and professional level. For the firm, the groups provide an opportunity for our employees to be heard, valued and engaged. Specifically, the members of these groups are drivers of cultural programming, relationship creation with diversity-focused groups and specialty bar associations, hosting of social and networking events, working to enhance the firm’s presence in civic organizations and their respective communities, and expanding the firm’s recruitment networks. Additionally, these groups are critical in assisting the firm with identifying vendors to enhance its supplier diversity.

Cultural Programming

The firm places a heavy emphasis on continuous diversity education for our employees.  Although some programs, like our implicit bias workshop, are offered only to our Buchanan employees, we host a number of public programs throughout the year and invite our clients and community partners to join us.  We are proud to provide a platform that celebrates uniqueness and increases awareness and sensitivity to D&I issues.  Links to our past programs can be found below:

• Courageous Conversations: Black Hairstyles in the Workplace
• Celebrating HERstory: A Conversation with Paulette Brown
• MLK Day Social Justice and Corporate Social Responsibility Roundtable

Dimensions of Diversity Podcast

Hosted by Lloyd Freeman, the Dimensions of Diversity podcast features meaningful conversations with industry leaders, D&I experts, attorneys and thought leaders about a variety of subjects, including current events, difficult and sometimes uncomfortable topics, what companies are doing well, what companies need to do better and how our unique experiences, perspectives and viewpoints can move corporate culture forward.

Our Partners

The firm as a whole, and our individual employees, are active members in a number of key organizations focused on advancing diversity and inclusion.  Our memberships and partnerships range from professional to educational to community-based, and more.  Below are a few of the organizations we are proud to work alongside.

Click the logos below to learn more about our partners.

Awards and Achievements

The firm is proud to have a direct connection through its named partner, Art Rooney II, to the Rooney Rule, the 2003 NFL policy mandating diversity in its hiring practices. This initiative inspired the Mansfield Rule, recognizing law firms for considering diversity in its hiring for leadership and governance roles. Buchanan was an inaugural participant in the Mansfield Certification and has achieved Plus status for three consecutive years. The firm is the recipient of many other diversity awards and certifications, including:

• Achieved Mansfield Plus Certification since 2018 (successfully reaching at least 30% representation of women and underrepresented lawyers in leadership roles and lateral hiring)
• Named to the Human Rights Campaign’s Best Places to Work for LGBTQ Equality
• Received a perfect 100% score on the Human Rights Corporate Equality Index each year since 2017
• Achieved Gold Standard Certification by the Women in Law Empowerment Forum (recognition for the number of women in the equity partner ranks and leadership positions, as well as women representing some of the most highly compensated partners)
• Received 2020 Compass Award from the Leadership Council on Legal Diversity