Platinum Sponsor

About Fasken

www.fasken.com

Fasken is a leading international law firm with more than 950 lawyers in 10 offices across three continents. With a presence in Canada’s major business centres, including Montréal, Québec City, Toronto, Ottawa, Calgary, Tsuut’ina, Surrey and Vancouver, our lawyers have an unrivalled combination of market knowledge and leading expertise, providing pragmatic advice on business law and litigation matters.

Our team provides expertise in every sector, including complex and high-profile matters in more than 80 practice areas for clients in a variety of industries. Clients rely on us for practical and innovative legal services. We find solutions to the most complex legal and business issues, putting the client at the heart of everything we do. 

In addition, Fasken benefits from a global network of independent associates who can be called upon to advise on questions regarding country-specific laws and regulations. For United States and international transactions, Fasken’s lawyers enjoy privileged relationships with major firms around the world.

In 2024, our lawyers provided 10,660 hours of pro bono legal support across a wide range of areas. We provided access to justice through pro bono workshops and helpdesks, and assisted clients in matters ranging from family law and eviction matters in South Africa, to consumer protection initiatives in Ontario, and supporting Indigenous Peoples and their communities.

Ranked as 2022 Corporate Law Firm of the Year by Chambers Canada, Fasken continues to be recognized for its international prowess in the 2024 Chambers Global Guide. The Firm received Band 1 rankings in a variety of practice areas.

Why did you decide to become a NBA-CLS sponsor?

Fasken supports the vision and mission of the NBA-CLS. We are committed to fostering equity, diversity and inclusion with intentional action and we make partnering with diversity-focused organizations a priority.

Internally, partnering with such a well-established and credible organization provides excellent tools, support and networking opportunities for our Black lawyers and affinity groups. Having developed a positive relationship with NBA-CLS and witnessed the quality of its activities and leadership, we are happy to pay it forward in part through our sponsorship.

Additional Information

At Fasken, we believe in fostering Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) by intentional engagement with our people, clients, and communities.

We focus our efforts on creating sustainable and systemic change both within the Firm and the legal industry. To drive change within our Firm, we have conducted an in-depth EDI diagnostic of our current state and developed a transformational EDI strategy, aiming to create change through inclusive leadership, process transformation, awareness, and partnerships to drive measurable outcomes.

We continue to address barriers to inclusion within the profession and broader society. Below, we highlight some of our commitments and partnerships:

• • Fasken’s Reconciliation Plan – launched in 2021, the Plan outlines our commitment to advancing programs and policies that foster reconciliation, equity, diversity, and inclusion.
  • Black Future Lawyers Program – building a pipeline of Black lawyers through our partnership which creates opportunities for Black undergraduate students who aspire to become lawyers.
  • Icon Talent Partners – partnering to provide scholarship and mentorship to Black and Indigenous law students.
  • Canadian Association of Black Lawyers (CABL) – partnering to support early career development and advancement for Black lawyers in their first to third years through the Early Career Program.
    
  • Ascend Canada – partnering to support the professional development of Pan-Asian business professionals in North America.
    
  • Federation of Asian Canadian Lawyers (FACL) – empowering Asian Canadian legal professionals.
    
  • South Asian Bar Association of Toronto (SABA) – partnering to advance South Asian representation and inclusivity in the legal sector.
  • Pride Toronto – first official pro bono legal services provider.
  • Canadian Paralympic Committee – Official Legal Services Partner.

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Gold Sponsor

About Wiley Rein LLP

www.wiley.law

Wiley is a preeminent law firm wired into Washington. As a trusted advisor to Fortune 500 corporations, trade associations, and individuals across all industries, we provide strategic guidance on complex legal and regulatory matters that define the national and global landscape.

With the current administration shaping policy directives, regulatory enforcement, and legislative agendas, our highly respected attorneys and public policy advisors offer unmatched insights into the evolving priorities of agencies, regulators, and lawmakers.

We are the firm of choice in DC for many of the most innovative, influential, and transformational companies, business groups, and nonprofit organizations. From artificial intelligence (AI), autonomous vehicles, and blockchain technologies to government contracts, international trade, and telecom, media & technology (TMT), we integrate deep industry knowledge with sophisticated understanding of Washington’s regulatory and legislative environment.

Our interdisciplinary approach allows us to anticipate challenges, craft policies, and deliver solutions that empower emerging innovators and established industry leaders to thrive in an era of rapid evolution and heightened scrutiny.

Why did you decide to become a NBA-CLS sponsor?

Wiley is honored to serve as a Gold Sponsor of the National Bar Association – Commercial Law Section, supporting its work to advance inclusivity in the legal profession and foster meaningful connections between in-house and outside counsel.

Additional Information

Wiley is home to a dynamic group of attorneys dedicated to our clients, our work, and our community. At Wiley, we aim to leverage our collaborative culture to celebrate the collective strength of all people – all under one umbrella.

Wiley is committed to inclusion and engagement, fostering a culture where all employees are encouraged to bring their unique perspectives to the table. The firm’s dedication to pro bono work and community service underscores its commitment to making a positive impact beyond the legal profession.

Wiley also invests in the next generation of legal leaders through strategic pipeline initiatives. We offer scholarships for pre-law and 1/2L law students who have demonstrated financial need, academic achievement, leadership, and resilience. These programs provide critical exposure to the legal field and help build pathways to success.

Our affinity groups play a central role in promoting connection and growth within the firm. These member-founded groups—including AANHPI Lawyers, Black Lawyers, Latinx Lawyers, LGBTQ+ Lawyers, Parents-in-the-Law & Allies, Veterans, Military Families & Allies, and the Women’s Forum—meet regularly to foster mentorship, inclusion, and professional development.

Our efforts have earned national recognition. We once again received a perfect score on the Human Rights Campaign Foundation’s Corporate Equality Index and were named a Top Performer and Compass Award recipient by the Leadership Council on Legal Diversity—our fourth time receiving this honor. We also continue to be recognized among the Washington Business Journal’s top corporate philanthropists.

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Gold Sponsor

About Alston & Bird

www.alston.com

The NBA-CLS provides an outstanding platform for networking and relationship building for in-house and outside counsel interested in promoting diversity and inclusion in the legal profession.  The talent that is showcased in the NBA-CLS is world-class, and we support the annual conference to celebrate and promote that talent.

Why did you decide to become a NBA-CLS sponsor?

The NBA-CLS provides an outstanding platform for networking and relationship building for in-house and outside counsel interested in promoting diversity and inclusion in the legal profession.  The talent that is showcased in the NBA-CLS is world-class, and we support the annual conference to celebrate and promote that talent.  

Additional Information

Alston & Bird has been a leader in law firm diversity and inclusion for many years, paving the way with ground-breaking initiatives and programs.  It is not by chance that Alston & Bird has built a reputation as one of the country’s best employers, appearing on Fortune magazine’s “100 Best Companies to Work For” for twenty-six consecutive years.  We have received national awards and recognition for our diversity and inclusion, including scoring 100% on the Human Rights Campaign Corporate Equality Index for 20 consecutive years.

Alston & Bird has gone beyond a one size fits all blueprint when it comes to inclusion. We understand that creating and maintaining an inclusive environment where everyone feels that they can succeed, that they belong, and that they matter is critical to attracting and retaining top talent.  We accomplish this goal with initiatives that include embedding Practice Group Diversity Partners in each of the firm’s practice groups to work to ensure everyone has equal access to meaningful work, client teams, and mentoring. The firm also provides up to 50 hours of billable credit toward associate bonus thresholds for diversity & inclusion leadership activities. Our Firmwide Diversity & Inclusion Committee, led by our full-time Diversity & Inclusion Partner, is dedicated to enabling meaningful, long-term changes that ensure the firm is second to none in attracting, developing, nourishing, and retaining top talent at the firm.

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