Perkins Coie Recognized by Weyerhaeuser for “Strongest Commitment” to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

SEATTLE (December 15, 2021)—Perkins Coie is honored to be recognized by the Weyerhaeuser Company, one of the world's largest private owners of timberlands, as the recipient of its inaugural Law Department Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Award. Perkins Coie received the award for demonstrating the "strongest commitment" to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) among Weyerhaeuser's outside legal counsel.

Weyerhaeuser established the annual award to highlight its core value of inclusion and to measure its outside law firms' efforts to create diverse, equitable, and inclusive work environments. In selecting Perkins Coie, Weyerhaeuser highlighted the firm's "broad approach" to improving DEI, including through hiring, promotions, attorney and staff development, and increased educational training.

"We are honored to be recognized as Weyerhaeuser's leading law firm for advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion, and we applaud Weyerhaeuser for establishing this new and important award to help drive positive change," said Genhi Givings Bailey, Perkins Coie's chief diversity & inclusion officer. "Perkins Coie is committed to doing everything we can to improve inclusion within the legal industry because we know that diverse teams deliver better results for our clients."

"We truly appreciate Weyerhaeuser's leadership and focus on improving diversity, equity, and inclusion within the legal profession," said Katie O'Sullivan, the chair of Perkins Coie's Firmwide Executive Committee. "We're continuing the implementation of our firmwide Strategic Diversity & Inclusion Plan to increase opportunities and advancement for diverse attorneys, including in leadership positions and on client teams."

Perkins Coie has made significant progress over the past decade toward building a diverse and inclusive culture. The firm's 2022 new partner class is 64% diverse, inclusive of women, people of color, LGBTQ+, and persons with disabilities.

In addition to improving the diversity of its leadership and partner promotions, Perkins Coie has committed to donating $2.5 million to groups that promote racial equality through legal representation, policy advocacy, and community-based activities. The firm is also taking on pro bono initiatives that address inequality in policing, the criminal justice system, and economic justice—efforts that last year contributed to the firm achieving the highest number of pro bono hours in its history.