Diversity & Inclusion at Jackson Walker

Diversity & Inclusion At Jackson Walker

Belonging

“As the largest law firm in Texas, it’s incumbent upon us to lead the way on diversity and inclusion. We’ve heard it said that diversity is a fact, inclusion is an act, and belonging is an outcome. We are dedicated to creating an environment where each one of us feels like we belong at Jackson Walker.”

View A Message from Our Managing Partner and Our D&I Chair

Over the past few years, the way we see diversity and inclusion has evolved – but our focus has always been on our people. We have stepped up in how we recruit talent, develop our future leaders, and promote colleagues from underrepresented backgrounds.

We are tremendously proud of the strides we have made in recent years. But as the largest law firm in Texas, it’s incumbent upon us to lead the way on diversity and inclusion, and we still have a lot of work to do.

We are evolving our thinking to embrace the idea of belonging. We’ve heard it said that diversity is a fact, inclusion is an act, and belonging is an outcome. We are dedicated to creating an environment where each one of us feels like we belong at Jackson Walker – that we are one collective team delivering the best service to our clients, improving our communities, and celebrating our wins.

For the past two years, we have been participating in Diversity Lab's Mansfield certification programs. In doing so, we have taken an active and intentional role in looking at hard facts and figures. Thanks to the collective progress we have made, in October, we achieved Mansfield Rule 5.0 Certification Plus status. We were also recognized with the 2022 Compass Award by the Leadership Council on Legal Diversity (LCLD). We are now working toward achieving Mansfield 6.0 certification.

We appreciate each and every one of our attorneys and professional staff who make our Firm so special. Together, we will continue the momentum to launch fresh ideas and commitments that will bring long-term change. We are excited for the future and the opportunity to make a real impact inside and outside our Firm.

Wade Cooper
Firmwide Managing Partner

Suzan Kedron
Diversity & Inclusion Committee Chair

Our commitment to diversity and inclusion is a reflection of our core values.

Underrepresented Racial & Ethnic
Attorneys & Staff

Associates
29%
Partners
15%
Counsel
11%
Others (Staff and Research Attorneys)
25%
All Attorneys
19%
All Staff
33%

Women
Attorneys & Staff

Associates
55%
Partners
25%
Counsel
48%
Others (Staff and Research Attorneys)
75%
All Attorneys
37%
All Staff
79%
0 %
of the Management Committee are Underrepresented Talent
0 %
of the Compensation Committee are Underrepresented Talent
0 %
of our combined Management, Compensation, and Hiring Committees are Underrepresented Talent

Statistics as of December 31, 2022

Fostering a Culture Where Everyone Belongs

Our Lawyer Resource Groups promote diversity, cultural awareness, and an inclusive work environment.
We asked the leaders of the LRGs to talk about diversity, inclusion, and belonging at Jackson Walker.

“I feel I belong when I can bring my whole self to work. I feel I belong when I can be authentic at work. I feel I belong when I feel respected for my authenticity at work. I feel I belong when it is clear that everyone is respected.”

— Courtney White
Research Attorney, Dallas
Chair, Black LRG

“Belonging means there's a place for you here because of your accomplishments, your efforts and your continued contributions, and not because of where you're from, how you look, who you love, or how closely you conform to a subjective standard.”

— JOE GUajardo
Partner, Dallas
Chair, LGBTQ+ LRG

“I believe JW has made positive progress in the last year, especially with the implementation of our Lawyer Resource Groups. I'm really excited about the First Generation LRG as it will provide an opportunity for all attorneys who are the first in their family to connect and find ways to support one another.”

— Sang Shin
Partner, Houston
Chair, First generation LRG

“Belonging means having the comfort in engaging in open, honest, and respectful discussions with those who may or may not share the same opinion, and feeling accepted and acknowledged that those opinions are important and contribute to bettering the community.”

— Shari Mao
Partner, San Antonio
Chair, Asian LRG

“I believe JW has made a great effort to recruit a diverse group of attorneys and staff. I also believe JW has created spaces where people can share their experiences and perspectives in an open format.”

— Michael Drab
Associate, Houston
Chair, Abilities LRG

“Belonging means feeling comfortable enough with your peers, surrounding, and work environment to be yourself without fear of judgment or prejudice.”

— Javier Gonzalez
Associate, Houston
Chair, Hispanic LRG

“Our mentoring program, both at the partner and associate level, aims to make sure that our female attorneys are provided all of the opportunity and support that they need to advance to that next level in their careers.”

— MONICA MESSICK
PARTNER, dallas
Chair, jw2 (jACKSON wALKER wOMEN)

Recognition

Mansfield Rule Certified Plus 2022

The Mansfield Rule has become the standard for firms to track and measure their success in growing the diversity of their management committees, promoting attorneys from underrepresented communities to partnership, and ensuring diverse representation in client pitch meetings. Mansfield Certification Plus status indicates that, in addition to accomplishing the baseline certification requirements, our firm has successfully achieved at least 30% underrepresented lawyer representation in a notable number of current leadership roles.

Leadership Council on Legal Diversity Compass Award

The Leadership Council on Legal Diversity (LCLD) recognized Jackson Walker with the 2022 Compass Award for showing a strong commitment to building a more diverse organization and a more inclusive legal profession.

More on Diversity & Inclusion at Jackson Walker

Amplifying Black Women’s Voices in the Workplace

Houston Partner Jamila Brinson shared her family and career story with The Texas Lawbook in honor of Black History Month.
Read more »

“While the barriers Black women face in the workplace have improved with time and collective concerted efforts at change, there is still a long way to go. For the benefit of my children and others, I want my life to reflect that I was a part of that change, even in the smallest way.”

Perspectives: Diversity & Inclusion Newsletter

November 2022
Celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month Welcoming Diverse Talent
August 2022
Connecting with Summer Associates Celebrating AAPI Heritage Month
April 2022
Elevating Diverse Attorneys to Partnership Cultivating the Diverse Legal Talent Pipeline
Explore the accomplishments of our diverse attorneys and their involvement within our communities in our D&I newsletter »

Jackson Walker Congratulates Its 2015 Best Lawyers in Dallas

June 2, 2015

‘Law360’ Names Jackson Walker Among 100 Best Law Firms for Minority Attorneys

May 21, 2015

Byron Egan, Willie Hornberger, Steve Moore Speak on Choice and Acquisition of Entities

May 18, 2015

Mary Emma Karam: Practical, Strategic Leadership

May 12, 2015

EEOC Proposes Rules Related to Employee Wellness Programs

April 23, 2015

Joel Heydenburk Elected to the Board of The Real Estate Council of Greater Fort Worth

April 22, 2015

Jackson Walker Represents Exelon in Texas Power Generation Projects

March 12, 2015

Jackson Walker Represents Exelon in the Sale of Quail Run Power Plant

March 12, 2015

Kathleen LaValle: Sharing Success With Clients and Community

March 12, 2015

Priya Coffey, Kurt Nondorf, and Vytas Petrulis Featured in ‘Houston Business Journal’ Real Estate Law Guide

March 10, 2015

Suzan Kedron Elected to Dallas Theater Center Board

February 13, 2015

‘D Magazine’ Selects Susan Mead to Participate as a D Academy Panelist

January 30, 2015

Our Committee

From the top down, we express how significant diversity and inclusion are for the Firm through commitment, communication, and action. To ensure our entire practice promotes equality for all, our Diversity & Inclusion Committee, comprising both attorneys and staff, directs diversity-related goals and collaborates on best practices for implementing initiatives.

View Committee Members

JW Standing in Solidarity

Racism, bigotry, and hate have no place in our society. Jackson Walker stands united with our colleagues, clients, and community partners in the fight to end systemic racism and social injustice. We believe that inequitable treatment of our fellow human beings is unacceptable. As one of the oldest law firms in Texas, our response demands that we listen, learn, and work for equality. Jackson Walker condemns and denounces all acts of racism and prejudice. We stand in solidarity and can only progress in unity.