Thompson Coburn Named to Bloomberg Law’s Fourth Annual DEI Framework

Thompson Coburn is one of 57 U.S.-based law firms that have been named to Bloomberg Law’s 2024 Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DEI) Framework, released July 18.

This marks the fourth year in a row that the Firm has been acknowledged for its commitment to transparency in disclosing diversity-related metrics and its exceptional performance across the framework’s six pillars. Those include demographics; leadership and talent pipeline; recruitment and retention; business innovation and strategy; marketing and diversity and inclusion in the community; and disclosure. Bloomberg Law reported that Thompson Coburn has surpassed the average score of DEI Framework members in all of those categories, in many cases far outpacing the average.

"Our continued high marks on Bloomberg Law's DEI Framework are a great testament to the work of so many at the firm to prioritize these initiatives," said Norma Jackson, Chief Diversity and Attorney Development Officer at Thompson Coburn. "We work every day to enhance diversity, equity and inclusion throughout our Firm and the legal profession, with the knowledge that diverse perspectives make us a richer and more effective organization."

Bloomberg Law’s DEI Framework was developed in 2021 in collaboration with Bloomberg’s Gender-Equality Index team, as well as diversity leads at corporations and U.S.-based law firms. Since then, the data shows incremental but important changes in law firm demographics:

• Overall, 44% of firms have a succession plan in place that specifically emphasizes greater inclusion of diverse/minority attorneys.
• 41% track origination credit that diverse attorneys receive, and 27% have a strategic plan to improve this.
• Nearly all firms reported having a public statement regarding their commitment to diversity and inclusion.
• 65% of firms mandate and monitor that minority and women attorneys have equal access to clients, quality work assignments, committee appointments, marketing efforts and firm events.
• In terms of accessibility, just over half of firms have a WCAG 2 compliant website, and 80% of firms allow employees to access basic accessibility aids without requesting an accommodation.

Thompson Coburn is dedicated to cultivating an inclusive and diverse workplace culture that appreciates and values the unique perspectives and contributions of individuals from various backgrounds and experiences. A core belief is that diversity enhances the Firm’s ability to serve clients and strengthen the organization as a whole. Thompson Coburn is committed to creating an environment where everyone feels welcome and valued.