Marshall, Gerstein & Borun LLP

Diversity

Marshall, Gerstein & Borun is committed to the recruitment and advancement of the most talented and qualified people from all backgrounds.  We value and seek the different perspectives that diversity of race, ethnicity, gender, religion and/or sexual orientation brings.

We also recognize that diverse backgrounds and different perspectives benefit our work environment by making it more vibrant and innovative.  The collective strength of our differences enables us to better serve our clients and create enduring relationships with each other and our community.

We advance our commitment to diversity through a strategic plan that includes a strong and active Diversity Committee.  The Diversity Committee is chaired by a member of the Firm’s Executive Committee, and includes a diverse representation of partners and associates as well as other leaders from the Firm's management.

The Diversity Committee works closely with our committees on professional development, recruiting, pro bono and marketing, as well as the practice groups to ensure that diversity and inclusion are incorporated at every level of the Firm’s management and operations.

“It is important to us to continually evaluate and fine tune our practice as we embrace an inclusive environment.  In addition, we have a shared responsibility with our clients and the legal community to engage in sustainable and collaborative action that enhances diversity throughout our profession.” states Roger Heppermann, chair of the Diversity Committee.

Recruiting

We actively recruit diverse candidates from all backgrounds who will grow and thrive at our Firm.

The Diversity Committee is working to increase the Firm’s diversity by:

• Integrating diversity as a key priority in recruiting and hiring.  For example, we participate in Interview Programs and Job Fairs at the Cook County Bar Association Minority Job Fair, National LGBT Bar Association Annual Career Fair and Conference, the Midwest Regional Black Law Students Association Convention and the Loyola Patent Law Interview Program.
• Conducting training to support a diverse Firm culture.
• Implementing programs to attract diverse lateral associates and partners.
• Enhancing the recognition of the Firm's commitment to diversity through initiatives in collaboration with clients, law schools, and minority organizations and publications.

If you would like to find out more about our diversity efforts in recruiting, please contact:  Judith Truman at jtruman@marshallip.com.

Community Outreach

Our Firm is actively involved in various organizations that work to enhance the overall levels of diversity and inclusion.  The following is a representative list of the organizations we support:

• AIDS Legal Council of Chicago
• Chicago Coalition of Women’s Initiatives in Law Firms
• Chicago Committee on Minorities in Large Law Firms
• Chicago LegalTrek
• Cook County Bar Association Minority Job Fair
• Equality Illinois
• Intellectual Property Law Association of Chicago, Women Attorneys in IP
• Lambda Legal
• Legal Assistance Foundation of Metropolitan Chicago
• Lesbian and Gay Bar Association of Chicago
• Loyola Patent Law Interview Program
• National Black Law Students Association
• National LGBT Bar Association
• North American South Asian Bar Association
• Women’s Bar Association of Illinois

Dedicated Action

Many individuals in the Firm commit time and resources to make diversity active values in their professional lives.  Jeffrey S. Sharp, the Firm’s Managing Partner, is a mentor in the Chicago Committee's Mentorship Academy.  "Just as promoting equal opportunity is important to our community, sustaining a welcoming and inclusive culture is important to our Firm because it allows us to draw from a broader talent pool in order to serve our clients better," said Mr. Sharp.  The Academy is a year-long program designed to bring minority attorneys at all levels together with leaders in law firms to build substantive individual and group mentoring relationships.

• The Board of Directors for the Coalition of Women’s Initiatives in Law Firms includes a partner, Julianne Hartzell, as a member.  The Coalition is a non-profit association whose mission is to share effective methods to enhance the retention and promotion of women lawyers and provide support for women's initiatives in law firms.

 

• Partner, Jeremy Kriegel, volunteers as a “coach” at the Chicago LegalTrek Contract Negotiation Workshop held every summer at Northwestern University Law School.  Mr. Kriegel coaches two teams of college students through a mock negotiation of a sale of high-tech goods, followed by a group question-and-answer session.   Chicago LegalTrek, affiliated with the Chicago Committee on Minorities in Large Law Firms, is a program designed to diversify the legal profession by encouraging college students from historically underrepresented groups to pursue careers in the legal profession.

 

• At the Microsoft Women and Minority Law Student IP Summit, partner, Paul Stephens, was a panelist in a "Roundtable Discussion on Diversity."  The program focused on career development, recruiting and retention for minorities and women in law firms and corporate legal departments.

 

• Jeremy D. Protas, a patent attorney with an emphasis on electrical engineering, recently established a scholarship for LGBT law students interested in pursuing a career in patent law.  "Diversity in the legal community, and especially in the patent law community, is important to me.  My hope is that this scholarship will encourage LGBT law students to consider careers in patent law," he said.

 

• Associate, Jennifer Burnette, is a member of the Executive Committee of the Women’s Board of the Adler Planetarium, supporting women and their successes in science and engineering.  Important to the mission of the Women's Board, is its advocacy for science education and research programs.  Ms. Burnette served as chair of the 2010 Women in Space Science Award Celebration that paid tribute to women leaders in space exploration.

 

• Milena Sukovic, an associate of the Firm, is also a member of the Women’s Board of the Adler Planetarium, and co-chaired this year's Women in Space Science Award Celebration.  Ms. Sukovic and Ms. Burnette contributed to a day-long program for more than 250 7^th, 8^th, and 9^th grade aged girls from Chicago public, private and parochial schools invited to the Adler Planetarium to participate in science-based learning activities led by women scientists to encourage young women to consider careers in science and intellectual property law.

At Marshall, Gerstein & Borun, we believe that diversity in backgrounds, experiences and perspectives make us stronger as a Firm, and we are committed to investing in that strength.