On June 30, the Nashville Business Journal announced the members of its 2024 Leaders in Diversity Class – recognizing the companies and individuals in Middle Tennessee who are leading the charge to advance diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) practices in the workplace. Bass, Berry & Sims is honored to be recognized this year as one of the DEI champions of the local business community in the “Outstanding Diverse Organization – Large Private Company (101-500 employees)” category.
Bass, Berry & Sims is deeply and intentionally committed to fostering an inclusive culture, central to our firm’s values. Anchored by a strategic plan for DEI, encompassing five key pillars – retention, access, clients, recruiting, and celebration – we are dedicated to tangible action and investment, underpinned by a robust accountability framework.
Some key elements of our DEI strategic plan include:
- Community Partnerships: Our initiatives span a spectrum of endeavors aimed at cultivating a diverse and inclusive legal profession. Through partnerships with organizations like the Leadership Council on Legal Diversity (LCLD), we offer scholarships and fellowships to aspiring legal professionals.
- Pipeline Initiatives: The firm is committed to nurturing diverse talent from an early age, ensuring a robust and inclusive legal profession for the future. We have partnered with K-12 institutions, community organizations, and colleges and universities to develop a pipeline of diverse students and lawyers interested in a career in the legal profession.
- Allyship: Recognizing the pivotal role of allyship in advancing DEI, we aim to foster a culture where everyone feels valued, respected, and empowered to contribute authentically.
- Affinity Groups: Our affinity groups serve as pillars of support and play a vital role in building a sense of community, addressing unique challenges, and providing mentorship and resources when needed.
- Pro Bono: With an intentional intersection between our DEI and pro bono programs, we actively engage with clients and community organizations to address pressing societal challenges and uplift underrepresented groups.
In addition to the 2024 Leaders in Diversity recognition, the firm has been recognized for our DEI initiatives through additional outlets, including:
- Bass, Berry & Sims is proud to join with 240+ law firms throughout the world in achieving Mansfield certification. Over 65 midsize and 175 large firms in the United States and Canada achieved the 2022-2023 Mansfield Certification focused on promoting inclusivity and diversity in law firm leadership.
- For the fifth year in a row, Bass, Berry & Sims received a perfect score of 100 on the Corporate Equality Index (CEI) administered by the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) Foundation. Bass, Berry & Sims was one of only eight Tennessee-based companies to receive a perfect score for 2022.
- Bass, Berry & Sims is honored to be named one of the “Best Law Firms for Women & Diversity” by Seramount for five consecutive years (2019-2023). The annual list recognizes firms that utilize best practices in recruiting, retaining, promoting, and developing women lawyers and lawyers from underrepresented groups, including people of color.
- Bass, Berry & Sims was recognized with the Industry Diversity Award from Lawyers of Color for 2023. Only 28 firms nationwide earned this distinction in 2023.
The Nashville Business Journal released the full list of winners in the article, “It’s Time to Reveal the 2024 Leaders in Diversity Honorees,” that is available online (subscription required). Honorees will be recognized at an awards ceremony on October 30 at the Omni Nashville Hotel.