Kirkland & Ellis Hires Joi Bourgeois as Firmwide Director of Diversity & Inclusion
Kirkland & Ellis LLP announced today that Joi Bourgeois has been hired as Firmwide Director of Diversity & Inclusion (D&I). Ms. Bourgeois has more than 20 years’ experience leading D&I and talent development efforts, with an emphasis on developing diverse leaders and business development coaching. She will be based in Kirkland’s New York office starting Sept. 5.
“We are delighted to welcome Joi to Kirkland, where we celebrate diversity, inclusion and service within our Firm and throughout the legal profession and the global communities in which we live and work. Having worked with both individual attorneys and law firms as clients, as well as within a law firm setting, Joi will be an incredible asset as we continue to attract, recruit and promote diverse talent,” said Jeffrey C. Hammes, Chairman of Kirkland’s Global Management Executive Committee.
Ms. Bourgeois was previously Global Head of Diversity & Inclusion at Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP. Before that, she was Vice President and Director of Business Development at Greiner Consulting Group.
“We have known Joi for a long time through her work as a consultant and she has been a trusted advisor to many of our attorneys, staff and alumni. As a former practicing attorney and a diverse individual herself, Joi brings not only deep experience but also a unique perspective on D&I program efficacy, efforts and inclusiveness in the law firm environment. We are delighted to welcome Joi to Kirkland,” said Jon A. Ballis, Chairman-Elect of Kirkland’s Global Management Executive Committee.
“I am excited to join Kirkland and work with an amazing team to help advance the Firm’s diversity and inclusion efforts. Clients have become much more urgent about greater diversity of talent at their law firms. They want their outside legal teams to look and be more like them and their clients and customers. A key to achieving those goals is providing diverse and female attorneys with the right coaching, sponsorship and mentorship to advance their careers. I hope to build on the number of incredible D&I initiatives at Kirkland to help create more women and diverse leaders,” said Ms. Bourgeois.
Ms. Bourgeois started her career as a corporate associate at Rogers & Wells (now part of Clifford Chance). She earned a law degree from New York University School of Law.
Kirkland’s commitment to diversity and inclusion is reflected in its policies, programs and committees as well as its efforts to build and maintain a culture that values and gathers strength from differences in our employees’ rich and varied backgrounds.