CHICAGO – The Seyfarth Shaw Law Firm has been recognized again by the Corporate Equality Index as one of the leading business firms to have a five-star LGBT workplace environment.
In December, the firm received a perfect 100 for its overall grading score. Firms that received a 100 score were noted as the "Best Place to Work for LGBT Equality." This means Seyfarth has current policies and practices set forth to protect LGBT workers. The recognition marked Seyfarth's ninth time to be recognized
Sam Schwartz-Fenwick, partner in Seyfarth's Chicago office, said the firm wants to make its employees feel comfortable and confident while at work.
"If they feel comfortable and confident, they will deliver the best work," he said.
He noted the firm's "strong focus on labor and equal employment" and said Seyfarth has "been wonderful for LGBT attorneys to practice at."
In fact, in 2015 one of Seyfarth's attorneys, Cameron Smith, was named as one of the best LGBT lawyers under 40 years of age. He was ranked by the National LGBT Bar Association. Each year, only 40 lawyers are recognized in the country.
Schwartz-Fenwick has been an attorney at Seyfarth since 2005, and in addition to his practice he also serves on the Seyfarth Shaw LGBT Affinity Group and the Illinois Safe Schools Alliance.
The firm's affinity group seeks to offer workplace support to those in the LGBT community and allows for volunteering opportunities, resource opportunities, support and help, and creates marketing material for the diverse firm.
The Illinois Safe Schools Alliance is a nonprofit organization for LGBT students in high schools across the state. The group seeks to "promote safety, support and healthy development for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and questioning (LGBTQ) youth, in Illinois schools and communities, through advocacy, education, youth organizing and research." Schwartz-Fenwick noted that this group allows for students to have a place of communication and safety while they talk and discuss their sexual orientation and identity.
At Seyfarth they pride themselves on diversity and inclusion.
"We believe that diversity - in terms of people, perspectives and experiences - creates more innovative solutions and leads to greater contributions from everyone," Schwartz-Fenwick said.
The Corporate Equality Index scores businesses on their LGBT environment and is used by the Human Rights Campaign Foundation. It scores on businesses' practices and polices in place. This is the 15th year the index report has scored companies.
This year, over 500 companies earned the top score of 100. In the report were more than 1,000 companies.