Kirkland & Ellis LLP Receives Award for Workplace Equality Innovation by The Human Rights Campaign

Kirkland & Ellis LLP was honored with the first "Award for Workplace Equality Innovation" by The Human Rights Campaign (HRC) at an awards gala on March 25. Kirkland is one of two recipients of this award, alongside its client, The Boeing Company.

Starting this year, the award will honor one or two businesses annually for a specific program or initiative that makes a positive difference to GLBT workers in the United States. Kirkland was recognized for its "ALLSA" Initiative, a program that matches Kirkland liaison attorneys in all domestic offices with 70 racial/ethnic minority, GLBT and women's law student organizations across the country.

"We are honored to receive this award from the HRC," said Thomas Yannuccci, chair of Kirkland's Firmwide Management Committee and partner in the Washington office. "Kirkland is committed to fostering a diverse and supportive work environment for all of our attorneys and staff through programs like 'ALLSA' and many others."

"Meaningful outreach to LGBT students about to enter the work force is an essential part of creating an inclusive environment for young professionals who don't have an established professional network in their careers," said Daryl Herrschaft, director of the HRC Workplace Project. "Younger workers are more likely than any other group to hide their sexual orientation or gender identity at work. HRC is pleased to award Kirkland's ALLSA program which provides substantive, personal mentorship to LGBT attorneys that will benefit them throughout their careers."

Kirkland has been honored previously by the HRC in 2007 and 2008 with a perfect score on the Corporate Equality Index. The index rates companies based on how well they treat their GLBT employees, consumers and clients. Businesses that rate 100 percent on the Corporate Equality Index are eligible to apply for the HRC "Award for Workplace Equality Innovation." This year Kirkland was one of 260 companies that met the criteria to apply for the award.

"We are proud to be at the forefront of corporate equality issues and are especially pleased with the positive results of our 'ALLSA' Initiative," said Eunu Chun, co-chair of Kirkland's Diversity Committee. "We will continue to initiate and develop programs to ensure that all of Kirkland's diverse attorneys have the essential support they need to succeed at the Firm, as well as opportunities to contribute to and positively influence diverse groups in the legal community."

Kirkland & Ellis LLP is a 1,500-attorney law firm representing global clients in complex litigation and dispute resolution/arbitration, corporate and tax, restructuring, real estate, and intellectual property and technology matters. The Firm has offices in Chicago, Hong Kong, London, Los Angeles, Munich, New York, Palo Alto, San Francisco and Washington, D.C.