Firm Leadership on Diversity
When she was elected in 2007 as chair of the Executive Committee,
Nina M. Gussack stated:
One of my top goals is the pursuit of diversity and excellence. I realize that reaching
this requires aggressive outreach efforts, but it is critical to our future as an
institution that we attract and retain the best lawyers, and I mean “best” in a broad
sense.
It also is important that all members of the Pepper community thrive, knowing that
their presence and contributions are of great value.
Today, Nina continues to acknowledge the extraordinary strength that diversity can
bring to Pepper noting, that “every individual can make a difference.” She challenges
the firm “to not just pay lip service to diversity because it is the catchphrase
of the day – but to celebrate it everyday because diversity is the one true thing
we all have in common.”
Pepper Hamilton is committed to advancing diversity, and we work continuously to
expand and promote opportunities for all Pepper people. Our Diversity Committee
spearheads our diversity initiatives and recommends strategic initiatives to recruit,
support and retain attorneys from diverse backgrounds.
Our efforts regarding our diverse attorneys
have long rewarded the firm and the individuals involved. The firm elected its first
female partner nearly a half-century ago. It elected its first person of color,
an African-American male, to the partnership in 1974. He later served as a federal judge
for 28 years before rejoining Pepper as of counsel in 2008. We were one of the
first large firms to elect a woman as executive partner in 1992. We continue to
be one of a handful of firms in the country with a woman as chair.
Diversity Committee Mission Statement
Diversity Committee Members
