Diversity

At Goodell, DeVries, Leech & Dann, LLP  we do more than pay lip service to diversity, we live it.  We believe that each person brings to the table a unique set of skills and experiences that enhances the quality of legal services that we are able to provide to our clients.  We are one of the few law firms with a woman Managing Partner, a woman Hiring Partner, and some of the top women trial attorneys in the nation.  Our women attorneys consistently have been recognized for the contributions that they have made to the legal profession, including being named on the Super Lawyers List many years in a row.  In fact, our very own Susan Preston was featured on the cover of the 2010 edition of Maryland Super Lawyers, and our Managing Partner, Linda Woolf, was honored this year with the Best Lawyers “Bet-the-Company” Litigation ranking.  Of our 52 attorneys, almost half  (23) are women, and of our 30-member partnership, 12 are women.  But our commitment to diversity does not end with gender.  We have a proven track record of recruiting, retaining, and advancing attorneys regardless of race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, disability, religion, age or gender.  Over half of our attorneys are women and minorities.

As part of our diversity initiative, attorneys at GDLD participate in minority law student mentoring programs sponsored by local law schools, teach at Howard University School of Law and Howard University School of Pharmacy, coach the Moot Court team at Howard University School of Law, and participate in diversity programs, including those sponsored by the Defense Research Institute.  We also are very active in mentoring at-risk and economically disadvantaged students from local Baltimore City High Schools through the Open Doors to the Federal Courts Program and other programs. 

Additionally, in 2008, the Maryland Defense Counsel (MDC) won the DRI Diversity Award for the "Great Strides, Great Struggle:  The Continuing Case for Diversity 70 Years after Murray" program.  Our firm was a proud underwriter of that program, and our partner, Nikki Nesbitt currently is a member of MDC's Board of Directors.

We at GDLD understand that people make the difference and that our firm should reflect the diversity of our clients and the communities in which we live and practice.  We further understand that our actions speak louder than words.  That is why we have a Committee devoted exclusively to the recruitment and advancement of minority attorneys.  We also have created a Women’s Initiative Program (WIP).  Our WIP promotes marketing, business development, and professional growth among our women attorneys.  In addition to our internal efforts towards promoting diversity, we welcome the opportunity to partner with women and minority-owned businesses on appropriate projects.