Perkins Coie Recognized by Intel as Most Diverse Outside Legal Team

SEATTLE (September 30, 2020) - Perkins Coie is honored to be recognized by Intel Corporation as the global technology company's most diverse outside legal team of 2019. The annual recognition from Intel is aimed at encouraging diversity among outside law firms who work on Intel's legal matters.

Intel is committed to diversity and inclusion across its global workforce and to improving diversity in the legal industry. To help drive this change, Intel has announced a new initiative called the Intel Rule. Under the initiative, beginning January 1, 2021, Intel will not retain outside law firms in the United States that are average or below average on diversity. Law firms will be eligible to do legal work for Intel only if, as of that date and thereafter, they meet two diversity criteria: at least 21% of the firm's U.S. equity partners are women and at least 10% of the firm's U.S. equity partners are underrepresented minorities.

In announcing the Intel Rule last year, Steven Rodgers, Intel's executive vice president and general counsel noted: "Today, we call on corporate law departments to also renew our shared commitments to take concrete steps to develop and hire diverse outside teams."

"We applaud Intel's leadership in championing diversity and inclusion and holding its outside law firms accountable for having diverse and inclusive teams," said Bill Malley, Perkins Coie's firmwide managing partner. "We are honored to be named Intel's most diverse law firm, which underscores our firm's long-held commitment to diversity and inclusion as core values—not only because it's the right thing to do, but because it builds better teams and ensures better solutions and outcomes for our clients."

Perkins Coie has made significant progress over the past decade toward building a diverse and inclusive culture. The firm's most recent partner class was 41% women and 22% lawyers of color. Of the promoted counsel class, 42% are women and 17% are lawyers of color.

The firm is committed to racial equality and has announced that it will donate $2.5 million dollars over the next five years to groups that promote racial equality through legal representation, policy advocacy, and community-based activities. Perkins Coie is also taking additional actions to further improve racial equality and justice.