Law firms pledge funds for racial justice and issue statements
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Law firms are making statements supporting racial justice and pledging funds to organizations that advance the cause.
Above the Law lists more than 70 firms that issued statements, while Law.com provided statements from nearly 40 larger firms.
Some law firms are pledging six-figure donations to advance racial justice, report Law.com, Law360 (here and here) and Above the Law.
The largest pledge—$5 million over five years—comes from Kirkland & Ellis.
Taking another tack, Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe plans a fellowship program in which at least five of its lawyers will spend a year working on civil rights and social justice issues.
Groups benefiting from law firm donations include the Equal Justice Initiative, the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund, the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law, the American Civil Liberties Union, the Southern Poverty Law Center and the Center for Constitutional Rights.
Some law firms are also offering pro bono support, according to National Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law President and Executive Director Kristen Clarke, who spoke with Law.com.
Her group plans to use the money to promote a more equitable system, fight for ballot access and combat hate crimes.
Law firms pledging six-figure contributions include:
• Akin Gump, which is giving $200,000 to the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund, and the Equal Justice Initiative. (Law360, Akin Gump)
• Cooley, which pledged $450,000 to the Equal Justice Initiative. (Law360, Law.com, Above the Law)
• Cravath, which is contributing $100,000 to the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund. (Above the Law)
• Davis Polk & Wardwell, which is donating $100,000 to the Thurgood Marshall Institute. (Above the Law)
• Latham & Watkins, which pledged a minimum of $500,000 to groups that include the Equal Justice Initiative and the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund. (Above the Law, Law.com, Law360)
• Milbank, which is donating $100,000 to the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund, the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law and the Equal Justice Initiative. (Above the Law, Law360)
• Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison, which is making “very significant donations” to groups that include the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund, the American Civil Liberties Union, the Southern Poverty Law Center, the Center for Constitutional Rights, the Equal Justice Initiative and the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law. (Paul Weiss, Law360, Above the Law)
• Ropes & Gray, which is making a six-figure donation. (Law.com)
• Sheppard Mullin, which is pledging $400,000 to a firm task force on race, inclusion and equality. The sum includes $100,000 from a court award for pro bono services for disabled people. (Law360)
• Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom, which is making a $100,000 donation to the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund. (Above the Law)
• Venable, which is donating $100,000 to the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund and $100,000 to groups in communities where the firm’s offices are located. (Law360, Above the Law)
• Weil, Gotshal & Manges, which is donating $100,000 to the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law, the NAACP Legal Defense Fund and Educational Fund and the National Urban League. (Law360)
Story updated June 11 at 2 p.m. to report that Akin Gump is also giving money to the Equal Justice Initiative. Story updated June 12 at 9:40 a.m. to report that Paul Weiss is also contributing to the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law.
