I. Gibson Dunn Diversity Mission Statement

Gibson Dunn believes that diversity is essential to our continued success as one of the leading law firms in the world. Our mission is to continue our active recruitment and retention of a workforce with a wide range of backgrounds and experiences. By creating such an environment, we believe the Firm and our clients benefit from our collaborative and unique practice.

II. Gibson Dunn Diversity Committee System

Gibson Dunn maintains a unique two-tiered diversity committee system with both a national committee and diversity committees located in each office.

The National Diversity Committee serves as a 14-person steering committee to support and oversee the Firm's diversity efforts. Membership on the national committee includes:

• Ken Doran, Los Angeles, Managing Partner
• Barbara Becker, New York, Partner, Chair, Diversity Committee
• Karen Bertero, Los Angeles, Partner
• Jessica Brown, Denver, Partner, Chair, Denver Diversity Committee
• Harlan Cohen, Dallas, Partner, Chair, Dallas Diversity Committee
• Dan Floyd, Los Angeles, Partner, Chair, Associates Committee
• Lisa Fontenot, Bay Area, Partner, Chair, Bay Area Diversity Committee
• Oscar Garza, Orange County, Partner, Chair, Orange County Diversity Committee
• Bill Kilberg, Washington, D.C., Partner, Management Committee
• Mark Perry, Washington, D.C., Partner, Executive Committee
• Diana Richard, Washington, D.C., Partner, Chair, Washington, D.C. Diversity Committee
• Steve Sletten, Los Angeles, Partner, Chair, Hiring Committee
• Leslie Ripley, Los Angeles, Chief Recruiting and Diversity Officer
• Chantel Moore, Los Angeles, Director of Diversity

In addition to the National Diversity Committee, there are diversity committees in each of our offices. The local diversity committees are open to all interested attorneys.

The local diversity committees have been instrumental in the gains we have made in diversifying our attorney ranks. They are actively involved in our recruiting efforts for summer and lateral associate candidates. Further, the committees serve as an important resource for our attorneys by providing our attorneys a forum for addressing a wide range of issues involving diversity and work life balance issues at the Firm. The Firm relies heavily on the insights offered by our diversity committee members to better formulate not only policies pertaining to furthering diversity at the Firm, but also general associate life.

III. Hiring a Diverse Attorney Body

Hiring diverse attorneys is not an option, it is an imperative.

As one of the premier law firms in the world, we at Gibson Dunn understand that having a workforce which represents our law school populations, our clients and our world are key to the long-term viability of the Firm. A diverse attorney body ensures that we will always be a firm where the brightest minds are free to thrive.

Gibson Dunn has a far-reaching recruitment program that canvasses law schools all over the world. Our goal is to hire truly outstanding attorneys. We make special efforts to reach out to minorities, women, and LGBT law students to inform them about Gibson Dunn practice. We are proud of our recruiting success, and will continue to build upon our program to make sure that we advance our goals.

Summer Associate Hiring Program

Each year Gibson Dunn hires several minority 1L students to work at Gibson Dunn as summer associates.  Since the program's inception in 2004, we have hired several minority summer associates into our program.  Our 1L summer associates are fully integrated into the summer program and are provided support throughout by their assigned mentors. Hiring for the summer program typically begins in December. For more information about how to apply for this program, please click here.

Law School Programs

During our recruiting season we visit over 20 schools around the United States. We make efforts through a range of on-campus activity to reach out to minority, women's, and LGBT groups.

Law School Panels and Programs - Over the past several years, our attorneys have held a series of educational panels and programs every year at various law school campuses for target student groups, including panels on survival tips for 1L students, career paths in the law, interviewing tips and mock interviews. Our diversity committees also host annual cocktail receptions on several campuses to introduce students to Gibson Dunn attorneys and our diversity efforts. We will often have a diversity committee sponsored hospitality suite during on campus interviews for the same purpose. We encourage all students to feel free to attend any of our campus events.

Summer and Fall Recruiting - During the summer, each local diversity committee hosts events for the summer associate class to introduce them to the committee, provide additional opportunities to meet Gibson Dunn attorneys and answer any questions they may have about diversity at the Firm. During fall recruiting, many of our local diversity committees host receptions or information sessions for minority, women and LGBT candidates to provide a forum for frank discussions about life at Gibson Dunn.

Support of Student Groups - We support several minority, women's, and LGBT student organizations throughout the year. Just some of the programs sponsored this year include:

• University of Michigan APALSA Annual Origins Cultural Show
• Columbia University BLSA Paul Robeson Annual Dinner
• Columbia Law Women Annual Myra Bradwell Dinner
• Georgetown University Law Center Outlaw Annual Dinner
• New York University SALSA Annual Diwali/Eid Charity Ball
• Yale Ms. JD Conference
• UCLA Annual Diversity Reception
• Harvard BLSA Job Fair
• Boalt Hall Herma Hill Kay Summer Fellowship

IV. Attorney Development

Gibson Dunn is not just interested in recruiting diverse attorneys; we are committed to their professional development. Diversity initiatives are being pursued at all levels across the Firm.

Diversity Strategic Plan and Training - The Firm has hired a premier diversity consultant to assist us in our efforts to develop a strategic plan and conduct firm-wide diversity training.

Mentoring Program - In order to improve the quality of mentoring in our offices, we have established a national Mentoring Committee. In addition to the national committee's efforts, on a local level we attempt to mentor our diverse lawyers, lawyer-to-lawyer, through programs tailored to the needs of each office. Several small group programs have been held in our various offices for minority, LGBT and women associates.

Collaborative Efforts - Gibson Dunn lawyers are involved in minority, LGBT and women's bar associations and groups in every city in which we practice, including:

• National Asian Pacific American Bar Association
• Black Women Lawyers of Los Angeles
• John M. Langston Bar Association
• African American Attorneys in Downtown Law Firms
• Sam Carey Bar Association
• Women Lawyers Association of Los Angeles
• Hispanic Bar Association
• Mexican American Bar Association
• Native American Bar Association
• National Bar Association
• Minority Corporate Counsel Association
• Los Angeles Diversity Roundtable
• Orange County Diversity Task Force

The Firm is a signatory to the New York City Bar Association's Statement of Diversity Principles.