Over the last few years, an increasing number of organizations across all industries have been reviewing their corporate cultures, management processes, and hiring practices to promote diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI). Like other industries, law firms have been under a microscope for their DEI practices. From the client’s point of view, a law firm with  diverse teams bring a rich set of perspectives that result in better-reasoned strategies and recommendations.

Yet, despite converging pressures from diminished personal tolerance, increased pressure for corporate responsibility, and more complex regulatory requirements, the representation of minority attorneys made only incremental progress over the last few years.

What does it take for a law firm as an organization and for an attorney as an individual to promote diversity and inclusiveness? How are clients’ expectations shaping and fostering law firms’ adoption and implementation of DEI principles? What considerations do lawyers who are renowned DEI champions embrace and value in their daily practice?

Our guest today is Tywanda “Ty” Lord, partner at Kilpatrick Townsend, in Atlanta, Georgia, USA. She specializes in trademark and advertising counseling and litigation; represents brand owners across a broad spectrum of industries including sports apparel, consumer products, and hospitality; and  proactively advises clients on a variety of issues, including trademark clearance and portfolio management, and managing social media advertising campaigns and the IP and right of publicity issues. Last but not least, Ms. Lord is heavily involved in – and acclaimed for- many DEI initiatives in  Atlanta communities.

Related Resources

About Ty Lord

Also of interest: 

Kilpatrick Townsend Partner Ty Lord Named to L.E.A.D. Leadership Advisory Council

Law.com: Best Mentors: Ty Lord

INTA 2022 Annual Meeting Live+—Sessions on DEI, Women in LeadershIP Workshop, April 30-May 4

INTA Bulletin: The State of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion—Interview with Presidential Task Force Co-Chairs

2021 Brand Resilience Conference: Practitioner Roadmap for Guiding Change

Law.com: Improving Law Firm DEI: How General Counsel Should Evaluate and Coach Their Vendors | Corporate Counsel

National Law Review: Law Firm Diversity and Inclusion in 2022

Thomson Reuters: How law firms increase DEI among business services and allied professionals

“The Color of Law”

The New York Times: Book review of “Caste”