Two more firms join Columbus managing partners diversity efforts

Hahn Loeser + Parks and Reminger & Reminger bring the total number of signatories firms committed to increasing racial diversity of attorneys in their ranks to twenty-four. Four years into this historic public commitment by Columbus law firms, the number of lawyers of color has more than doubled, and increases in lawyers of color are seen at all levels in every size law firm.

According to the 2005 Managing Partner’s Diversity Initiative survey:

• Since 2000, the number of minority attorneys has more than doubled, beginning at 46 (comprising 3.7% of the total attorney population) to the current 109 (comprising 7.65%).
• Diversity levels increased in firms of every size since 2000. Small firms went from 1.3% to 7% minority attorneys (3 to 23). Medium-sized firms went from 5.8% to 10% minority attorneys (16 to 31). Large law firms went from 3.7% to 7% minority attorneys (27 to 55).

Stephen E. Chappelear, managing partner of the Columbus office for Hahn Loeser indicates his firm has joined because “it is the right thing to do.” Reminger & Reminger is looking for a way to keep pace with other firms and their diversity initiatives and using tools provided by this partnership to develop diversity planning according to Ronald A. Fresco, managing partner of the firm’s Columbus office.

The Columbus Bar’s effort has won national and local awards and is seen as a model program across the country. For further information please contact the Diversity Director at 614/221.4412 or diversity@cbalaw.org.