Diversity & Inclusion

The diverse experiences of our attorneys and staff are essential to providing creative and effective representation for our clients’ most challenging cases.


Jump to: Firm Culture  //  Diversity & Inclusion Committee  //  Desmarais LLP Women’s Initiative [DLLPW]  // Family Benefits & Parental Leave  //  Firm-Wide Trainings  //  Recruiting  //  Sponsorships


Firm Culture:  A Place For Everyone, With No Billable Hours
Inclusiveness is at the core of the Desmarais LLP’s firm culture.  We offer a welcoming, collegial atmosphere where all employees are treated with respect and have equal access to opportunities for professional growth.  The firm has created an environment that fosters meaningful connection among its employees.  For example, every Wednesday and Friday the firm hosts lunch for all employees together, with each employee in the firm choosing the fare on a rotating basis.  Breaking bread together gives staff and attorneys an opportunity to interact and get to know one another in a relaxed social setting.  

Desmarais LLP does not bill by the hour or track the number of hours worked by attorneys.  This allows our attorneys to enjoy greater autonomy over their schedules, and better flexibility to balance work and obligations outside of the office.

 
Diversity & Inclusion Committee 
Desmarais LLP’s Diversity & Inclusion Committee works to promote an inclusive work environment, including the recruitment and retention of lawyers and staff from diverse backgrounds.  The Committee facilitates workshops and holds regular meetings to discuss and implement initiatives to further the firm’s commitment to diversity and inclusion.  The Committee members are also available to employees as a resource for addressing questions and engaging in conversations about diversity and inclusion at Desmarais LLP.

 
Desmarais LLP’s Women’s Initiative (DLLPW)
Desmarais LLP prides itself on being a firm where everyone can thrive and achieve professional success.  DLLPW, the women’s initiative at the firm, plays a significant role in fostering that culture.  DLLPW hosts events throughout the year, including: workshops targeted toward professional development, social hours that provide networking opportunities for the firm’s female attorneys, and volunteer days to give back to the community.  DLLPW also functions as an informal mentoring group where the women of DLLP can learn from one another.


Family Benefits & Parental Leave 
Desmarais LLP’s benefits package is amongst the most competitive in the industry.  We offer comprehensive medical benefits to all employees and their families, including domestic partners, and the Firm covers all premiums.  In addition, the Firm offers 12 weeks of paid parental (maternal and paternal) leave to eligible employees following the birth, adoption, or foster care placement of a child.  Birth mothers are eligible for up to 20 weeks of paid leave.

 
Firm-Wide Trainings
To ensure our firm provides a work environment where every employee feels respected and has a path to success, Desmarais LLP offers regularly scheduled firm-wide workshops on diversity and inclusion topics, including unconscious bias and respect in the workplace.  All employees are also required to complete training modules, including on the prevention of workplace bullying and harassment.

 
Recruiting
Desmarais LLP’s goal is to attract and retain top talent from a diverse pool of candidates.  In addition to pursuing diversity-related initiatives within the firm, Desmarais LLP is proud to sponsor student organizations dedicated to diversity-related issues at law schools around the country, including, for example, the Black Law Students Association at Harvard Law School, the Latinx Law Students Association at Penn Law, and the Columbia Law Women’s Association.  Schools and student organizations that are seeking sponsorship for diversity-related clubs and events should contact recruiting@desmaraisllp.com for more information.

 
Sponsorships
Desmarais LLP annually sponsors and participates in conferences devoted to advancing women and diverse individuals.  For example, Desmarais LLP is a proud sponsor of the annual ChIPs Global Summit, the annual Tech Up for Women conference, and the annual convention of the National Asian Pacific American Bar Association (NAPABA).  The firm also regularly attends and participates in meetings of the Women in Law Empowerment Forum (WILEF) and the Women in IP Network (WIN).