Perkins Coie Recognized by the Puget Sound Business Journal and GeekWire for Community and Diversity Leadership Including the Black Boardroom Initiative

SEATTLE (May 31, 2022)—Perkins Coie is pleased to announce that the firm has been recognized in the Pacific Northwest for its community leadership and diversity initiatives, including the Black Boardroom Initiative, by both the Puget Sound Business Journal and GeekWire.

The Puget Sound Business Journal (PSBJ) honored Perkins Coie as part of its 2022 Corporate Citizenship Awards. The firm was awarded the PSBJ's Diversity Champion award, which "identifies, quantifies and celebrates the contributions of businesses to the widest range of community causes." Perkins Coie was one of only nine corporate champions recognized for 2022 that went above and beyond to make a positive impact on the region.

Perkins Coie Partner Stewart Landefeld spoke to the PSBJ about the honor, describing the Black Boardroom Initiative and its importance as a part of the firm's diversity efforts, including the goal of the Black Boardroom Initiative to meet the demand for diversified leadership among the country's largest public and private companies.

The program receives critical support from a number of other organizations including Deloitte, which was the first organization approached to sponsor the initiative. Deloitte Consulting LLP Managing Director Pat Ogawa also spoke to the PSBJ and stated that Deloitte is proud to be the first organization approached by Perkins Coie to be a sponsor, that Deloitte gladly signed up, and is gratified that a number of other organizations are now sponsoring the initiative.

Following the success of the inaugural cohort, the Black Boardroom Initiative expanded the program to New York. Executives who participate in the New York and Washington state programs will be supported with targeted training and networking opportunities, as well as mentorship and an opportunity to benefit from the shared experience of the Black executive program advisors. The second cohort launched on May 18, 2022.

Additionally, the Black Boardroom Initiative itself was selected as an honoree for the Geeks Give Back category at the 2022 GeekWire Awards ceremony in Seattle. The award recognizes organizations that have "benefited kids and education, people under-represented in tech, the environment, healthcare, and other worthy missions." The Black Boardroom Initiative was recognized for its efforts to increase the diversity of S&P 500 corporate boards by training cohorts of diverse executives. The Geeks Give Back honorees were selected based on community nominations, along with input from GeekWire Awards judges.