• David Bogan, an African-American, served two terms as Partner-in-Charge of our Metro New York offices.

• Nancy A. Hayes, an African-American woman, serves as the firm's Operations Officer.

• In July 2004, Kevin J. Rasch, an African-American and former counsel in our firm, was selected as Chief Legal Counsel to Jodi Rell, the Governor of Connecticut.

• Alvin W. Thompson, an African-American, served as managing partner of our firm from September 1992 until November 1994, when he was sworn in as a judge of the U.S. District Court for the District of Connecticut.

• Janet Hall, a former partner and head of our firm's litigation practice, was appointed a United States district judge for the District of Connecticut in 1997.

• Many women serve in leadership positions throughout the firm, including Alice DeTora and Pamela Elkow as members of the Managing Committee. Five women serve as Practice Group Chairs, including Rhonda Tobin of the Litigation Practice Group, Lisa Boyle of the Health Care Practice Group, Linda McDowell of the Individual Clients Practice Group, and Kathleen Porter of the Intellectual Property Practice Group.

Our policy is to recruit, hire, train and promote the best person available for any vacant position without regard to their race, color, sex, religion, national origin, ancestry, disability, age, marital status, sexual orientation, veteran's status, or for any other reason prohibited by law.

In our summer associate classes for 2003 and 2004, 19 out of 23 were women, and over 25% were summer associates of color. For 2005, women comprised over half the summer associate class, and nearly half were persons of color. Likewise, our 2004 and 2005 associate classes were comprised of over 75% women and nearly 25% attorneys of color. Our new attorneys are the most diverse group of individuals we've had in a long time, in terms of gender, race, background and law schools represented.

For the past decade, our Committee on Firm Culture has worked actively to eliminate systemic barriers to advancement and retention, by creating and maintaining an environment characterized by acceptance and respect for all individuals. The committee plays an active role in increasing our firm's awareness of issues that arise in the nontraditional workforce. Lawyers and staff from all levels, representing each of our offices, form the membership of this committee. For example, on the committee's recommendation, we extended the option of providing health benefits to domestic partners of employees. We have also instituted family-friendly policies that allow lawyers and staff flexible work schedules to help balance family and business demands.

Our firm is an active participant in The Boston Law Firm Group, considered a prototype around the country, as well as The Connecticut Lawyers Group, Inc.