Diversity Makes Us Better
Schwabe, Williamson and Wyatt believes that the diversity of its
people enriches the fabric of its culture and promotes a high level
of workplace satisfaction. We are truly a better place, and most
assuredly a better firm, because we welcome and engage individuals
of diverse races, genders, sexual orientations, religions, veteran
status, backgrounds and viewpoints.
We are convinced that our advancements in diversity have enhanced
workplace satisfaction for all of us. Meeting the challenge of a
fully diverse workplace is far from complete, but our commitment
to diversity is resolute and sustained.
We are proud of our efforts to promote diversity in our firm, in
the community and in the bar:
• David F. Bartz, Jr., firm president, received the prestigious
Oregon Women Lawyers’ 2008 Mercedes Deiz Award for outstanding
contribution to promoting minorities in the legal profession and
community. Mr. Bartz also received a 2008 Lifetime Achievement Award
from the World Arts Foundation, which honors individuals who exemplify
the life of Martin Luther King through community service work.
• The firm has established a scholarship
for first-year minority law students.
• Schwabe participates in the Oregon State Bar minority summer
intern program.
• The firm has a long-standing commitment to participation
in local, regional and national minority job fair programs.
• Members of the firm have played leadership roles in efforts
to promote diversity in the bar.
• The firm and its lawyers participate in and have long supported
organizations and programs designed to promote the professional
careers of minority lawyers (e.g., the National Hispanic Bar Association,
of which one of our lawyers is the current national president, and the ABA
Minority Law Conference).
• Our lawyers are active participants in client-led initiatives
to promote equality and professional opportunities for women and
minorities (e.g., participation in and leadership of client-sponsored
women's conferences, minority conferences, minority job fairs, etc.).
• We reach out to and engage minority-owned law firms in our
market.
• We have pioneered a law firm community outreach program
by being the first law firm to create and sponsor a clinic to provide
pro bono legal services to indigent and largely Hispanic members
of our communities.
• We have sponsored and funded a scholarship through the auspices
of the Portland Hispanic Chamber of Commerce.
• The firm and several of our lawyers have played leading
roles in the support of and as activists for gay and lesbian workplace
equity, and against initiatives and institutions which discriminate
on the basis of sexual orientation.
• We support military reservists who are called up to serve
our country and the Department of Defense has honored our firm for
its efforts.
• The firm is actively participating in a program to offer
pro bono legal representation to Guantanamo Bay detainees.
• Former Schwabe lawyer, Ancer Haggerty: First-African American
partner in a major law firm, now a highly respected U.S. Federal
District Court judge.
• Schwabe lawyer, Neva Campbell: among the very first women
to become a partner in an Oregon law firm.
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