Diversity: Lathrop & Gage L.C.

Lathrop & Gage L.C. supports and participates in a broad spectrum of programs and activities focused on diversity, both within the firm and the law profession generally.

Lathrop & Gage serves clients throughout the United States and beyond, and we value the critical and collaborative thinking and the varied perspectives and experiences that result from a diverse workforce. We also believe that our work force should reflect the diversity of the clients we serve and the communities in which we live and practice. More than a principle, a policy or a well-crafted statement, this commitment is an attitude in practice, reflected in the work of our Diversity Committee ¿ and the firm as a whole ¿ to foster the professional growth of our talented minority attorneys and to recruit new diverse talent. An inclusive workforce is one of our most valuable assets, and that diversity has been a critical factor in our growth and success.

We begin stressing the importance of diversity starting on day one for every new employee. An orientation session provides information about the firm's values and the importance of treating all individuals with respect and dignity. New attorneys participate in a program that pairs them with experienced lawyers. The Diversity Committee remains focused on developing new ways to recruit, retain and foster the professional development of talented minority employees.

We support and foster networking within diversity sections of the American Bar Association and the Minority Corporate Counsel Association. Our attorneys and staff take leadership roles in professional and civic organizations dedicated to advancing the interests of minorities in our communities. In December 2005, the firm won the KCMBA Presidential Award for the firm's efforts with the Heartland Diversity Legal Job Fair. The fair attracted hundreds of aspiring legal professionals from across the nation to Kansas City as part of a comprehensive effort to increase diversity in the legal community. We invest significant time and resources in chairing, advising and carrying out the work of more than 200 charitable and other public service organizations.

Through these and other diversity initiatives, we will continue to accept the challenge of developing and implementing programs to attract and retain strong minority candidates, and to better serve our clients in the global marketplace.

Diversity Committee

Michael A. Williams, Chair
mwilliams@lathropgage.com
816.460.5562

Peter J. Chung
pchung@lathropgage.com
816.460.5623

Shelly Harbert
sharbert@lathropgage.com
816.460.5549

Mark H. Levison
mlevison@lathropgage.com
314.613.2539

Rosalee M. McNamara
rmcnamara@lathropgage.com
816.460.5604

Robert W. McKinley
rmckinley@lathropgage.com
816.460.5636

Jessie Merrigan
jmerrigan@lathropgage.com
816.460.5706

Thérèse P. Miller
tmiller@lathropgage.com
816.460.5312

Andrew Ramirez
aramirez@lathropgage.com
913.451.5113

Cheri Rhodes
crhodes@lathropgage.com
816.460.5518

Frederick K. Starrett
fstarrett@lathropgage.com
913.451.5140

Diversity Initiatives

Diversity Programs

• Lathrop & Gage is a founding sponsor of the Heartland Diversity Legal Job Fair (HDLJF). The 2007 HDLJF will be held September 7-8, 2007 in Kansas City, Missouri at the Kansas City Marriott Country Club Plaza. The annual Job Fair is designed to expose law students of diverse backgrounds to both traditional and non-traditional legal employers. Law firms and legal organizations have come together to encourage students to make Kansas City their first choice. More information about the HDLJF can be found at http://www.heartlanddiversity.org/. Lathrop & Gage is also participating in the Summer Diversity Clerkship Pilot Program.
• CLE program co-sponsor (with Washburn University School of Law), "Diversity in Corporate America: From Brown v. Board of Education and Beyond," (2004).
• Diversity Initiative, Kansas City Metropolitan Bar Association (KCMBA)
• Diversity Training through our subsidiary Human Resources Return on Investment (HROI)

Sponsorships

• Diversity Scholarship, KCMBA Leadership Academy
• Diversity Scholarship, Jackson County Bar Association
• Diversity Scholarship, UMKC School of Law
• Black Achievers' Society Annual Golf Tournament
• BLSA Food Drive, University of Kansas Chapter
• BLSA Lloyd L. Gaines Scholarship Banquet, University of Missouri Chapter

Recruiting

• On Campus Interviews
• Cook County Minority Job Fair (Chicago, Illinois)
• Founding Sponsor, Heartland Diversity Legal Job Fair (Fall 2005, Kansas City, Missouri)