What can be done to ensure the momentum created by the Black Lives Matter movement delivers long-lasting change? Change requires buy-in and commitment from law firm management, as well as by decision-makers from the companies who are the consumers of legal services. Law firms have touted initiatives to increase diversity for years, and it is a rare firm that does not have an established diversity programme. But statistics contained in a 2020 report by the American Bar Association showed continued under-representation of minority attorneys in the IP field, particularly with regard to Black IP lawyers. Changes at law firms are often motivated by mandates from clients, so clients can play an important role in driving increased diversity.
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Originally printed in World Intellectual Property Review on June 10, 2021. This article is for informational purposes, is not intended to constitute legal advice, and may be considered advertising under applicable state laws. This article is only the opinion of the authors and is not attributable to Finnegan, Henderson, Farabow, Garrett & Dunner, LLP, or the firm’s clients.
