DEI

Vision: To be a workplace where our people feel valued and included. A workplace where our people are open to sharing their beliefs and values and receptive to learning and growing from exploring the backgrounds and experiences of their peers. A workplace where diverse ideas are generated to create positive change in our firm and innovative solutions for our clients.

Mission: To create an inclusive environment where each individual can be their “true” self and work together with their practice group or department to create original ideas that place the firm at the forefront as a leader in the legal field.

Strategic Objectives.  We believe in being on the cutting edge of everything that we do and to continue to guide our path toward that goal, we have focused our diversity and inclusion efforts on three distinct, yet intertwined objectives: 

Aided by the advocacy and diligence of FordHarrison's Diversity Executive Council and Diversity Advisory Board, our firm strives to meet these goals and recognizes the beneficial impact a successful diversity and inclusion program will have on firm morale, productivity, strategies and success.

The Diversity Executive Council is a group comprising some of the firm's highest-ranking partners (the firm's Managing Partner, General Counsel, Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Partner, and Deputy Diversity Partner) as well as two staff executives: the firm's Talent and Recruiting Partner and the firm's Chief Client Development Officer. The Diversity Executive Council is responsible for high-level strategic planning in the area of DEI, including determining how the firm invests its most valuable resources in this area. The Diversity Advisory Board is composed of attorneys from diverse backgrounds and geographic locations. Due to their physical locations and their unique perspectives, these attorneys aid us in crafting meaningful DEI programs that resonate with all of FordHarrison's lawyers.

At the national, local, and state levels, we actively engage with charitable, DEI, and legal industry organizations that align with our mission to create positive social impact. Our dedication to DEI has not gone unnoticed, as our firm has been honored and recognized by organizations and publications for our significant strides in promoting diversity and inclusivity within our firm and the legal industry. These accolades serve as a testament to our ongoing efforts to contribute meaningfully to the advancement of DEI both within our firm and in the broader community. Below is a sampling of our more recent accolades in DEI, for information on our past recognitions, read more here. 

FordHarrison’s Supplier Diversity Program (FHSDP) was established in 2020 to promote supplier diversity by encouraging the engagement and award of vendor and supplier work and contracts in a way that strengthens and increases business opportunities for minority and women-owned businesses (“Diverse Suppliers”). Diverse Suppliers are defined as those businesses in which the majority (51%+) shareholders are women or minorities or businesses certified as Minority Business Enterprises (MBEs), Women Business Enterprises (WBEs), Service-Disabled Veteran Business Enterprises (SDVOBEs), Veteran Business Enterprises (VBEs), Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Business Enterprises (LGBTBEs) and Disability-Owned Business Enterprises (DOBEs). FordHarrison encourages all firm members to use Diverse Suppliers when available and appropriate for the needs of each client. 
 
FordHarrison will maintain an annual list of its suppliers, their status as a Diverse Supplier (as noted above), and the Firm’s spend with each supplier.  Each year, FordHarrison will endeavor to increase its use of Diverse Suppliers in each office and collectively as a firm.

Qualifications
Suppliers that meet our diversity requirements are companies that are 51% owned, controlled, and operated by one or more of the below minorities:

• African American
• Asian/Pacific Islander American
• Disabled
• Hispanic American
• LGBT
• Native American
• Non-Minority Women
• Veteran 

Certification Requirements
FordHarrison recommends but does not require, your business to be certified. We encourage all minority and women suppliers to be certified by the Women's Business Enterprise National Council and/or the National Minority Supplier Development Council.