Diversity & Inclusionat Fenwick & West

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About Us

Fenwick & West was founded in 1972 in the heart of what would become Silicon Valley. Four visionary lawyers from a high-end New York firm wanted to pursue their shared belief that the rapid advancements in technology would be revolutionary to the business world.

For over four decades, we have represented companies that have changed the world, companies on the cutting edge of their industries. Many of our clients are well-known companies redefining software, e-commerce, communications, entertainment and social media.

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Diversity, Inclusion & AuthenticityFenwick & West promotes a work environment where our lawyers and staff can freely express themselves while shaping their professional career. Our employees come from many different backgrounds, with a wide range of identities, perspectives and experiences to bring to the table. Our commitment to diversity & inclusion expands beyond a numbers game; we cultivate a culture of authenticity, embracing each other’s differences and values.

Diversity & Inclusion at Fenwick & West

Fenwick in Action1L & 2L Diversity Scholarship

To promote diversity in the legal profession and provide additional financial support to law students from underrepresented backgrounds in the legal profession, we offer scholarships to law students to help them with tuition and academic expenses.

Affinity Groups & LGBTQ Ally Program

Fenwick has nine different support networks and resource groups that foster environments for employees to be their authentic selves at work. These groups provide opportunities for attorneys and staff to engage with colleagues about issues affecting their communities. These programs give our employees opportunities to become educated, engaged and empathetic to diversity & inclusion issues.

Confidential Advisor Program

Our Confidential Advisor Program, was designed to ensure that our most junior attorneys integrate into the firm quickly and successfully, hit the ground running and achieve early success in their careers.

Mentoring Program

Our Mentoring Program was designed to provide support and career guidance for mid-level and senior associates as

they transition through various stages of their careers, contemplate a practice specialty or niche, and to look externally to build relationships with clients and other important contacts.

Parental Leave Programs

Fenwick provides 16 weeks of parental bonding time that applies to all attorney parents, regardless of gender or caregiver status. Attorneys that have been disabled by pregnancy, childbirth or a related condition may also be eligible to take Pregnancy Disability Leave. Fenwick’s Transition Mentor Program provides associates who are expectant mothers their choice of a mentor who can support them not only before their leave, but also during their leave and after they return to the workplace. Fenwick’s Reintegration Program allows associates to select a reduced schedule for a period of time after returning from their leave.

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Internal HappeningsOur Firm Chair, Managing Partner and members of the Diversity & Inclusion Committee communicate with personnel throughout the Firm by email, newsletters, partnership meetings and full firm town hall meetings to engage in discourse about diversity, its value and importance to the firm.

A Glimpse into Our Internal EventsCommunity Luncheons

Throughout the year, Fenwick hosts a series of community luncheons that are reserved for current events or movements, such as the #MeToo movement, the hate crimes that occurred in Charlottesville, and acts of gun violence. By hosting community luncheons, the Firm hopes to strengthen the Fenwick community by creating a safe and supportive space for everyone to come together.

Diversity & Inclusion Week

Every other year, Fenwick facilitates a week-long lecture series focusing on current diversity and inclusion issues in the workplace. Past featured speakers include Ritu Bhasin, who presented on resisting conformity and embracing one’s authentic self, Chris DeSantis, who spoke on generational diversity and creating an inclusive environment, Emily Chang, who discussed bridging the gender gap and the future of work, and Kate Kendell, who presented on fostering LGBTQ equality and inclusion in a divisive political climate.

Diversity Summit

We host a biennial summit for our attorneys and clients to engage in discourse about diversity, its benefits and challenges to the Firm. Some past keynote speakers include Sheryl Sandberg, COO of Facebook, John Thompson, Chairman of Microsoft and CEO of Virtual Instruments, and Mariano-Florentino Cuéllar, California Supreme Court Justice.

Heritage Month Celebrations

We believe in celebrating not only our own cultural backgrounds but also the cultural backgrounds of others. Fostering an ally culture is important to our inclusion efforts and celebrating different backgrounds firm wide serves to educate and promote awareness in a diverse workplace. Each year, we celebrate Black History Month, Hispanic Heritage Month, Asian Pacific American Heritage Month, Pride Month, and Disability Awareness Month.

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AwardsRecognized as having both the best mentoring and the best pro bono programs in North America by Euromoney (2019)

Ranked second among similar-size firms for minority lawyers, as well as third for minority equity partners, by Law360 (2019)

Received 100% score (A+ rating) on The Human Rights Campaign Foundation’s Corporate Equality Index for Fenwick’s pro-LGBT policies and working environment (2019)

Ranked as one of the best law firms for women by Working Mothers (2018) and as North America’s Best National Firm for Women in Business Law by Euromoney (2019)

Ranked the fifth-best law firm in the U.S. for diversity by The American Lawyer (2019)

Achieved Mansfield 2.0 Certification Plus by Diversity Lab, indicating that in addition to meeting or exceeding the pipeline consideration requirements for certification, Fenwick has also successfully reached at least 30 percent diverse lawyer representation in a notable number of current leadership roles and committees. Fenwick has joined Diversity Lab’s Mansfield Rule 3.0, which will include lawyers with disabilities as well, in addition to women, lawyers of color and LGBTQ+ lawyers.

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External InvolvementWe are proud of our external involvement in the legal community, including sponsoring and participating in organizations and programs, such as

Asian Pacific American Bar Association of Silicon ValleyAsian Law AllianceAsian Law CaucusAsian Pacific American Bar Association of Silicon ValleyBay Area Latino Lawyers Fund Bay Area Lawyers for Individual Freedom (BALIF)California ChangeLawyersCentro Legal de La RazaDiversity LabEqual Justice WorksEqual Rights AdvocatesEquality CaliforniaFresh Lifelines for Youth Human Rights CampaignIranian American Bar AssociationJustice Diversity CenterKorean Bar Association La Casa de las Madres

La Comida de CaliforniaLambda LegalLegal Aid San Mateo LifeMovesNational Asian Pacific American Bar AssociationNational Center for Lesbian RightsOneJustice OnRamp FellowshipOperation Gratitude PracticePro 1L Diversity Scholar ProgramPride Law Fund San Francisco La Raza Lawyers AssociationSanta Clara La Raza Lawyers AssociationSF PRIDESouth Asian Bar Association – Northern CaliforniaTahirih Justice CenterTransgender Law CenterWomen’s Leadership EDGE

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