Haynes and Boone Receives Corporate Equality Award from Lambda Legal

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August 17, 2010 // Franchising.com // DALLAS – Haynes and Boone, LLP was awarded the Corporate Equality Award from Lambda Legal's South Central Regional Office at the organization's inaugural Landmark Dinner on Saturday, Aug. 16. The award honored the firm for its long-standing support of Lambda Legal and that organization's efforts to protect the rights of lesbians, gay men, bisexuals, transgender people (LGBT) and those with HIV.

Nick Even, Haynes and Boone partner and diversity committee member, accepted the award on behalf of the firm. "We are honored and humbled to receive this award," Even said. "Haynes and Boone strives to be a leader in workplace policies affecting LGBT employees and this is confirmation of our efforts.

"However, the firm views these honors as small steps in a longer journey. We will continue with efforts aimed at embracing and valuing all of our employees. For us, diversity is not programs or statistics, it is an integral part of our culture," Even said.

Lambda Legal instituted the new Landmark Dinner event to celebrate the organization's critical role in numerous landmark legal victories positively affecting the lives of LGBT people, including the Supreme Court's decision in Lawrence v. Texas in 2003.

"Promoting and encouraging a diverse and mutually respectful working environment is one of our cornerstone values at Haynes and Boone," said Felicity Fowler, who chairs the firm's diversity committee. "We are proud to support Lambda Legal and its tireless work toward equality for the LGBT community."

In 2009, Haynes and Boone was the first Texas-based law firm to earn the top rating of 100 percent in Human Rights Campaign's Corporate Equality Index. The firm repeated that rating in 2010. The index analyzes large U.S. employers and their policies and practices pertinent to LGBT employees.

In other diversity recognition, Haynes and Boone jumped up eight spots to No. 38 in MultiCultural Law magazine's 2010 ranking of the top 100 law firms for diversity. The firm elevated its rankings in six categories in the Vault Top 100 annual survey, ranking No. 17 for its overall commitment to diversity out of 100 of the nation's largest law firms.

Haynes and Boone, LLP is an international corporate law firm with offices in Texas, New York, California, Washington, D.C., Mexico City and Moscow, providing a full spectrum of legal services. With more than 525 attorneys, Haynes and Boone is ranked among the largest law firms in the nation by The National Law Journal. The firm has been named one of the "Best Corporate Law Firms in America" (Corporate Board Member Magazine, 2001-2009) and recognized as a "Top 20 Law Firm" for culture and for diversity with respect to both women and minorities (Vault, 2011.)