Overview
Our commitment to diversity is fundamental to our success, as well as the success of our clients, the communities we serve, and our system of justice.
The Diversity Committee was founded in 2000 by attorneys William H. Hoch and Jimmy K. Goodman and values the strength that women, minority, and LGBTQ lawyers add to the fabric of the firm. Our committee focuses on how to best foster the recruiting, retention and professional development of attorneys, regardless of gender, race or sexual orientation. The committee evaluates how diversity makes Crowe Dunlevy a better firm, and how it may best be used to serve the firm’s existing clients and develop relationships with potential new clients. It also seeks to retain and advance the careers of women and minority lawyers within the firm.
Our focus on diversity
- Allows us to apply multiple perspectives and creative thinking to find innovative solutions for our clients
- Allows us to deliver outstanding service because we understand our clients and their needs
- Gives us a competitive advantage
- Takes place at the national and local levels
The Oklahoma Bar Association announced Crowe Dunlevy as the 2016 Ada Lois Sipuel Fisher Diversity Award winner in recognition of our efforts in promoting diversity in Oklahoma. The firm was also honored by the Oklahoma City Association of Black Lawyers with the Ada Lois Sipuel Fisher Diversity Award in 2009.
Prioritizing Inclusion
William G. Paul, past ABA president and director at the firm, made increasing diversity in the legal profession the top priority during his year in office (1999 – 2000). He lead efforts to establish the ABA Diversity Center, and broadened efforts of all ABA entities to monitor and increase their own diversity is a result of those efforts. Bill also established the ABA Legal Opportunity Scholarship Fund where Bill and his wife Barbara, together with Crowe Dunlevy, funded the initial $100,000 for these scholarships that are still awarded annually today. Inspired by Bill’s actions on the national level, Crowe Dunlevy then established diversity scholarships at each of the three laws schools in Oklahoma in his honor. The diversity scholarships at the state’s law schools would not have been possible without his tireless support. In 2002, he was awarded the ABA Spirit of Excellence Award by the ABA Commission on Racial and Ethnic Diversity for his commitment to improving opportunities in the profession for lawyers of color.
“We can best serve society if members of the legal profession come from all segments of the population, reflecting the diversity of the United States…”
William G. Paul
ABA President (1999 – 2000)
Women of Crowe Dunlevy
Crowe Dunlevy has worked to ensure that there have been no impediments to the promotion of women within the firm. Timila S. Rother was the longest-serving president and CEO at Crowe Dunlevy, while Judy Hamilton Morse, past chair of the Litigation & Trial Practice Group, was the first woman to head a major Oklahoma-based law firm. For the past 25 years, there has been at least one woman on the firm’s five-member executive committee. The firm makes it a priority to explore and address issues such as minority recruitment, training/mentoring programs, maternity leave, part-time schedules, sexual harassment prevention and other initiatives designed to attract and retain female attorneys.
