Benefactor Sponsor

About Vance Dispute Resolution, PC

www.vanceadr.com

With over 25 years of legal, professional, and business expertise, VADR provides mediation and arbitration services to resolve complex issues and disputes. VADR takes pride in helping parties manage and resolve conflict to avoid time-consuming and expensive litigation.  VADR handles all types of mediations, and arbitrations with a specific focus on commercial disputes, construction, employment/labor, intellectual property, legal malpractice matters, and product liability.

VADR has specific experience in the following areas: Employment-related matters including but not limited to consent decrees, constructive dismissal, bullying, discrimination (Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA), Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), disability, ethnicity, gender, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, transgender, religion (Seventh-day Adventist), religious accommodations), Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), evaluating employment practices for mergers and acquisitions, Equal Pay Act (EPA), Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA), harassment, Pregnancy Discrimination Act (PDA), Title VII of the Civil Rights Act or 1964, §1981, retaliation, wage and hour, workplace investigations, and wrongful termination. Contract matters related to breach of contract (supplier and subcontractor disputes, warranty, limitations of liability, bid awards and disputes), non-compete agreements, nondisclosure agreements, severance payment, and severance agreements. Employee safety-related matters including but not limited to compliance, Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), worker’s compensation, and workplace injuries. Human resources (HR) related matters dealing with background employment screening, DEI (diversity, equity, and inclusion), diversity initiatives, drug tests, handbooks, hiring, job evaluations, HR training, leadership training, manager and supervisor training, outplacement services, policies and procedures, performance reviews, progressive discipline, recruiting, remote work, succession planning, and termination. Personal injury-related matters including, but not limited to auto accidents, trucking cases, and product liability (aerial devices, bucket trucks, electrocution, and heavy machinery).

August 2023 Attorney Spotlights

Silver Sponsor

About King & Spalding

www.kslaw.com

King & Spalding helps leading companies advance complex business interests in more than 160 countries. Working across a highly integrated platform of more than 1,300 lawyers in 23 offices globally, we deliver tailored commercial solutions through world-class offerings and an uncompromising approach to quality and service.

From railroads to banking, energy projects to life sciences, King & Spalding has served leading commercial industries in each decade since the late 1800s. A Global 50 law firm today, we have grown in close relationship with our clients’ interests and market dynamics, coordinating now across global hubs to best serve our clients’ complex, often cross-border, objectives.

Our high-performing culture is founded on a drive for uncompromising quality, a dedication to service and genuine respect for others. Clients tell us that our culture sets us apart, leads to beneficial outcomes and is a consistent experience across our offices in the U.S., Europe, the Middle East and Asia.

We are guided on a daily basis by a set of client service principles that express our straightforward, outward-oriented and personal approach to delivering solutions.

Diversity & Inclusion allows King & Spalding to provide the highest quality legal service to our clients. We have a better culture and working environment because of the different talents, backgrounds and perspectives of our lawyers.

We aim to contribute to the greater good of our communities. Rolling up our sleeves to make a difference, we volunteer with local nonprofits on impactful community service projects.  Leveraging our legal expertise, we provide pro bono representation in support of fundamental legal needs and important social justice and equality issues. We extend our impact by also giving to important causes.

July 2024 Attorney Spotlights

August 2023 Attorney Spotlights

Gold Sponsor

About Kilpatrick

https://ktslaw.com/

Kilpatrick is trusted counsel to the world’s most innovative companies.

As one of a handful of law firms focused on serving the world’s most groundbreaking companies, we always strive to be at the forefront, from creating a best-in-class client experience to proactively addressing challenges and seizing opportunities on the cutting edge of law and technology. With recognized strength in the technology sector and a full range of service offerings, we do things differently from our peers because we put people first. Our highly skilled and intellectually curious team delivers practical, business-centric solutions built upon unusually strong and enduring connections with our clients and collaboration with each other.

With a foundation of over 160 years of success, we are steadfastly future-focused, driving innovation while cultivating genuine relationships. We’re optimistic about the future and invest in the success of our clients, our people, our firm, and our communities.

Why did they decide to become an NBA-CLS sponsor? (50 – 100-word count)

The NBA-CLS is a unique opportunity to interact with in-house counsel and General Counsel. Kilpatrick is proud to support the NBA-CLS and support the pipeline of African-Americans entering the legal profession.

Additional Information

At our firm, we believe that a wide range of backgrounds, perspectives, and experiences enables our lawyers and professional staff to work together towards common goals, strengthens our workplace, and enhances our ability to serve clients. We are proud that our team reflects the rich variety found in the communities and industries we serve.

We foster a culture where people from all walks of life feel valued, respected, and able to thrive. Creating an environment of genuine belonging is essential—not only to who we are as colleagues, but to the way we approach our work.

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Gold Sponsor

About Crowell

www.crowell.com

Crowell & Moring LLP is an international law firm with offices in the United States, Europe, MENA, and Asia. Drawing on significant government, business, industry and legal experience, the firm helps clients capitalize on opportunities and provides creative solutions to complex litigation and arbitration, regulatory and policy, and corporate and transactional issues. The firm is consistently recognized for its commitment to pro bono service and its programs and initiatives to advance diversity, equity and inclusion.

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

Crowell has supported Firm lawyers’ attendance at NBA-CLS for a number of years, and we have seen firsthand the value of NBA’s creating space and opportunities for diverse talent to grow and thrive. Additionally, Crowell lawyers are active members of and participants in NBA, including leading and serving as panelists for previous NBA-CLS conferences. We are proud to continue supporting the mission and strategy that NBA-CLS advances, providing valuable networking, visibility, career development, and relationship-building opportunities for Black lawyers.

Additional Information

At Crowell & Moring, we value and respect differences, knowing that diversity of culture and thought makes us a stronger firm. Under the leadership of our Chief Talent & Inclusion officer – overseeing our Recruitment, Professional Development, and Diversity, Equity & Inclusion functions of the firm – we have incorporated a talent development approach into the firm’s strategy of identifying and providing meaningful opportunities for all of our attorneys. We have advanced these goals through efforts such as our participation in the Mansfield Rule (of which we are 2.0, 3.0, and 4.0 certified); our establishment of the Crowell Rule, which supplements our Mansfield Rule efforts by requiring that every lateral associate, counsel and partner candidate position has an interview pool of 30% racial/ethnic and LGBTQ+ diversity and at least a 50% interview pool composed of women and lawyers from diverse backgrounds; our Diversity Pledge to double the number of lawyers from diverse backgrounds at each level, increasing the percentage of women and diverse lawyers in leadership positions, and adding 150 women and diverse lawyers to the firm within five years; and our ongoing engagement and business development support of our Asian Pacific Islander, Black, Hispanic & Latinx, Middle Eastern & North African, and LGBTQ+ lawyers. Our efforts have been recognized by Seramount’s (formerly Working Mother’s) Best Law Firms for Women for 11 consecutive years, LCLD’s Top Performer and/or Compass Awards for 6 consecutive years, and HRC’s Corporate Equality Index 100% score for 11 consecutive years, to name a few. More information can be found on our Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion website.

August 2023 Attorney Spotlights

September 2022 Attorney Spotlights

Platinum Sponsor

About Ogletree Deakins

www.ogletreedeakins.com

Founded in 1977, Ogletree Deakins is one of the largest labor and employment law firms representing management in all types of employment-related legal matters. The firm has 1,000 attorneys located in 56 offices across the United States and in Europe, Canada, and Mexico.

From traditional labor issues and employment litigation to workplace safety and employee benefits, Ogletree Deakins has experienced professionals in all areas of labor and employment law who provide efficient, client-focused service. The firm also has a thriving business immigration practice. Best Law Firms® has named Ogletree Deakins a “Law Firm of the Year” for 13 consecutive years. In the 2024 edition, the publication named Ogletree Deakins its “Law Firm of the Year” in the Employment Law – Management category. 

Ogletree Deakins has a long-standing commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion. It is not only a moral imperative; it is one of the firm’s core values and is outlined in our overall strategic plan. DEI is essential to the growth and success of our firm and the quality of service we provide to our clients. 

We demonstrate this commitment through many channels, including mentoring and programming. The firm has eight affinity groups that serve as vehicles to recruit, develop, retain, and advance members through mentorship, professional and business development opportunities, networking, and community service. Ogletree Deakins also has a Diversity & Inclusion Steering Committee which oversees the firm’s DEI initiatives and DEI Ambassadors in each office to serve as the go-to DEI leaders for local programs.

Ogletree Deakins’ Diversity and Inclusion Practice Group draws upon the vast resources present within one of the nation’s largest labor and employment-focused law firms. The group brings together attorneys experienced in D&I program implementation, affirmative action/OFCCP compliance, and pay equity to ensure clients are prepared to address the inherent challenges in building effective and legally compliant initiatives. The group also harnesses the expertise within Ogletree Deakins Learning Solutions to craft and deliver diversity-oriented training that meets clients’ needs. 

We are proud to have earned recognition for our DEI initiatives, including:

• • Ogletree Deakins is a Mansfield Certified law firm, a rigorous, year-long certification program that aims to boost and sustain diversity in law firm leadership.
  • In 2023, Ogletree Deakins was named a member firm of the inaugural Bloomberg Law Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Framework.
  • The firm was recognized as one of the “Best Law Firms for Women and Diversity” by Seramount in 2024 for the eighth time.

Ogletree Deakins remains dedicated to fostering a culture where DEI is woven into the fabric of the firm, and all individuals have a sense of engagement, affirmation, and belonging to achieve their full potential.

August 2024 Attorney Spotlights

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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.

November 2025 Attorney Spotlights

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