SEATTLE--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Davis Wright Tremaine LLP was honored today by U.S. Bank’s Law Division with its “Invested in Diversity” award. The firm is the second recipient of the annual award, which recognizes one of the bank’s preferred law firms that has made a significant impact on advancing diversity in the legal profession.
“U.S. Bank is committed to promoting diversity, equity and inclusion both within our company and within the broader legal profession,” said Jim Chosy, U.S. Bank’s senior executive vice president and general counsel. “We remain focused on building and promoting diverse professionals to help us perform optimally, now and into the future, and to begin to address historic inequities within the profession. We’re proud to congratulate Davis Wright Tremaine for showing exemplary work to further diversity, and we strive to work with others who share these same ideals.”
Last year, U.S. Bank selected a talented group of diverse professionals from Davis Wright Tremaine to present at its Spotlight on Talent program, which gives early-career women and diverse lawyers from outside law firms the opportunity to learn more about U.S. Bank, meet with the Bank’s legal team, and present educational content to the entire legal department. The topic – “Diversity and Inclusion in Coastal Big Law: the Inside Story” – was timely and the DWT team gave a presentation that was both thought-provoking and practical. The team comprised a group of associates and counsel that included Christina Antoun, Maryam Casbarro, Juliana Gerrick, Xiang Li, Jonathan Mark, Danielle Toaltoan and Dsu-Wei Yuen, with input from partner Tiffany Switzer.
Davis Wright Tremaine has been a legal industry leader in diversity, equity and inclusion for years, having been recognized by clients and industry groups for putting in place effective programs to recruit and help retain and develop diverse lawyers and to promote them into leadership. The firm’s decision to hire Yusuf Zakir as its first chief diversity, equity, and inclusion officer is the culmination of the firm’s efforts to date under its strategic plan to more deeply embed DEI into the firm’s operations. The firm has also committed to ensuring an inclusive workplace in the legal profession by becoming Mansfield Certified Plus in 2020.
“Davis Wright Tremaine has been inspired by the leadership of our clients in the area of diversity, equity, and inclusion. U.S. Bank is a fantastic exemplar of that leadership. As is the case with U.S. Bank, DEI are part of the fabric of Davis Wright Tremaine – central to who we are and what we do,” Zakir said. “We’re honored by this recognition from a leading partner like U.S. Bank, and we will continue to be intentional in our efforts to create a more inclusive environment where all of our lawyers and staff have equitable opportunities to succeed.” Added Switzer: “We are grateful for our continued partnership with U.S. Bank, which has encouraged us to continue advancing these principles while creating professional opportunities for our team.”
U.S. Bank has been recognized as a champion for diversity, equity and inclusion and most recently launched U.S. Bank Access Commitment, a long-term approach to help build wealth while redefining how it serves diverse communities and provides more opportunities for diverse employees. Under Chosy’s leadership, the company’s Law Division has shown a particular focus on building and promoting diversity, to strengthen its own culture and also help further a more equitable legal profession.
About U.S. Bank
U.S. Bancorp, with nearly 70,000 employees and $554 billion in assets as of December 31, 2020, is the parent company of U.S. Bank National Association, the fifth-largest commercial bank in the United States. The Minneapolis-based bank blends its relationship teams, branches and ATM network with digital tools that allow customers to bank when, where and how they prefer. U.S. Bank is committed to serving its millions of retail, business, wealth management, payment, commercial, corporate, and investment customers across the country and around the world as a trusted and responsible financial partner. This commitment continues to earn a spot on the Ethisphere Institute’s World’s Most Ethical Companies list and puts U.S. Bank in the top 5% of global companies assessed on the CDP A List for climate change action. Visit usbank.com for more.
About Davis Wright Tremaine
Davis Wright Tremaine LLP is a national law firm with more than 550 lawyers representing clients based throughout the United States and around the world. For more information, visit www.dwt.com.
