OUR VALUES

At Kramer Levin, we realize that exposure to varied perspectives, experiences and backgrounds enhances our work environment and creates a culture of acceptance, collegiality and professional growth. We have always prided ourselves on the individuality and uniqueness of our lawyers. We remain committed to fostering and maintaining an environment in which diversity can flourish.

Kramer Levin's mission statement is to take proactive measures to build and promote mutually beneficial relationships and to operate the Firm in an inclusive, ethical and culturally sensitive manner which represents the range of human differences. Diversity, as defined by the Firm, is an inclusive concept and encompasses, without limitation, race, color, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, religion, nationality, age, disability and marital and parental status.

Our efforts to create a diverse workforce have brought us recognition as a leading law firm:

• Multicultural Law Magazine selected Kramer Levin as a "Top Firm" in its survey rankings the last three years. Our firm has been recognized as a Top 100 Law Firms for Diversity in 2007 & 2008 and as one of the Top Law Firms for Women in 2006, 2007 and 2008.
  
  
• Vault Top 100 Law Firms ranked Kramer Levin #19 in diversity for women and #13 in diversity for gays/lesbians in 2008.
  
  
• Kramer Levin was recognized as one of the 50 Best Law Firms for Women by Working Mother/Flex-Time Lawyers in 2007.
  
  
• In the 2008 Corporate Equality Index and Best Places to Work survey, Kramer Levin received a top rating of 100. The survey, sponsored by the Human Rights Campaign Foundation, is the only nationally recognized measure of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender ("LGBT") workplace equality. Read more about our firm's commitment to LGBT equality and our leading role in pro bono LGBT civil rights litigation.

In addition, a number of factors demonstrate the Firm’s diversity commitment and success, including:

• Our Diversity & Women's Committees meet monthly to ensure continued progress on issues and inclusion principles.
  
  
• Our attorneys participate in mandatory annual diversity training.
  
  
• Our Firm is a signatory to the New York City Bar’s Goals for Minority Recruitment Hiring and Retention.
  
  
• Our Firm supports a number of legal organizations aimed at increasing diversity, including AALDEF, AABANY, Asian American Law Fund, LeGal, Lambda Legal and the New York City Bar.

Through a variety of events, the Firm engages with students, attorneys and clients to help foster diverse and equitable workplaces. Examples include:

• Heritage Month celebrations including events for African American History Month, Women’s History Month, Asian Pacific American Heritage Month, LGBT Pride Month, National Hispanic-Latino Heritage Month and National American Indian Heritage Month.
  
  
• Legal Outreach: The Firm was the first to make a contribution to help launch Legal Outreach Inc.’s new College to Law School Pipeline Diversity Program. The initiative is aimed at helping minority college students prepare for law school. Over the years, the Firm has provided summer internships for Legal Outreach students, and numerous Kramer Levin associates have worked as mentors, debate coaches and judges for Legal Outreach programs. Also, for several years, the Firm has endowed four annual scholarships for graduates of the organization’s College Bound program.
  
  
• Sponsors for Educational Opportunity (SEO): Our Firm hires a minority college graduate to work as a legal assistant prior to beginning his or her first year of law school.
  
  
• The Firm sponsors a minority law student mock interview program.
  
  
• The Firm participates in minority law student job fairs such as Northeast BLSA Job Fair and Harvard’s Minority Job Fair.
  
  
• The Firm sponsors minority law student association events.
  
  
• The Firm sponsors women’s networking events and panel discussions. Previous events have included a BRAG! Workshop with a client, work-life balance presentations and guest speaker luncheons.
  
  
• The Firm supports a part-time/flex-time policy that permits attorneys (male or female) to work alternative schedules.

OUR DIVERSITY COMMITTEE

The Firm’s diversity efforts are encouraged and supported by the Diversity Committee. The Committee, Chaired by Christopher Auguste and comprised of partners, associates and senior administrative staff, is committed to the recruitment of law students and lawyers of diverse backgrounds, professional development of lawyers in minority groups and promotion of an open and ongoing dialogue on a wide range of diversity issues. We believe that by prioritizing diversity issues, we will continue to promote an environment where women and men of varied races, ages, national origins, religions and sexual orientation can practice law in an effective manner.

OUR WOMEN'S INITIATIVES COMMITTEE

Kramer Levin’s Women’s Initiative Committee is comprised of both women and men partners. The Committee, Chaired by Jennifer Rochon, meets regularly to address issues of importance to women at the Firm, improve the recruitment, retention, and advancement of women attorneys, and increase the representation of women in leadership positions. This committee works together with the firm’s Women’s Initiative Advisory Committee, comprised of women and men associates and special counsel from various departments.
COMMUNITY SERVICE AND PRO BONO

Kramer Levin’s commitment to diversity extends beyond our office into the communities that we serve in our pro bono practice and community service programs. In 2007 alone, the Firm devoted over 19,605 hours of pro bono legal services which included approximately 55 hours of donated time per full-time attorney.  Kramer Levin attorneys are also involved in a wide range of community service activities including nonprofit board service, other activities for public interest, social service, religious organizations and participation in mentoring and counseling programs. Kramer Levin believes that the Firm’s long-standing commitment to our pro bono practice, community service and diversity have mutual benefits as our diverse legal professionals can become more responsive lawyers and advocates.