Balch Recognized by Leadership Council for Legal Diversity as a 2024 Top Performer and Compass Award Winner

Balch & Bingham is proud to announce that the firm has been named has been named a Top Performer and Compass Award winner by the Leadership Council on Legal Diversity (LCLD), which recognizes law firms and corporations that show a strong commitment to building a more inclusive legal profession.

This recognition marks the firm’s third consecutive year of being honored with the Compass Award for our steadfast commitment to advancing diversity and inclusion within the legal profession. The Top Performer award recognizes those organizations who are most engaged with LCLD’s programs and activities throughout the year.

“These recognitions are a direct reflection of what we can accomplish through our collective action,” said Brandi A. Russell, Balch & Bingham's Chief Diversity & Inclusion Officer and Director of Talent Management. “We are proud of the several active LCLD participants at Balch & Bingham and look forward to our continued relationship with LCLD.  As we take a moment to celebrate our progress, we are reminded that we must remain focused on our ongoing commitment beyond mere words.” 

The Compass Award recognizes individuals and organizations that fulfill all the following requirements in a single calendar year: 

• Managing Partner engagement with LCLD;
• Participation in LCLD Fellows and Pathfinder Programs;
• Participation in an LCLD Pipeline program.

“We are proud of the progress these awards represent and appreciate the opportunity to participate in LCLD programs and serve clients who are actively engaged in LCLD programs and initiatives,” said Stan Blanton, Managing Partner. “We are dedicated to pushing forward, ensuring that diversity, equity, and inclusion are not just goals, but lasting pillars of our firm’s culture and the legal community.”   

LCLD is composed of more than 400 corporate chief legal officers and law firm managing partners - the leaders of the profession - who are committed to ensuring that all talent thrives, with the ultimate goal of building a more equitable and diverse legal profession.

Over the past three years, Balch’s Katie Kimbrell, David Duhè and Tashwanda Pinchback Dixon participated in the LCLD Fellows program and Ian Burt, Christina Nuñez and Irving Jones participated in the Pathfinders program. 

Balch & Bingham is committed to setting an example and raising the standards for diverse workplaces both in the legal industry and beyond. Some highlights of our firm’s DE&I initiatives include signature programs the Susan B. Livingston Boot Camp for Success, which equips incoming law students with the necessary tools to succeed in law school and throughout their professional careers, and Balch Business Boost, which supports entrepreneurs of color and/or women-owned businesses and start-ups by providing free or low-cost legal services. We have also implemented a DE&I learning series, which provides educational resources to empower our team to help nurture an inclusive firm culture, as well as a billable credit program that encourages attorneys to participate in approved DE&I activities.