partner in its Restructuring Group , started off the program by asking , “ So why is this important [ to Kirkland ]? First , it ’ s the right thing to do . We ’ re not just about making money , we ’ re also about trying to make the world a better place . Second , clients sometimes demand it . Although this happens occasionally , it ’ s not really the biggest driver of our behavior . Lastly and perhaps most importantly , no organization can sustain success if it materially restricts its access to the talent pool . Half of all law students are women . If your firm is not a desirable location for women , then you are cutting off access to half of the talent pool . It ’ s a losing formula .”
College Chair Melissa Kibler shared remarks about the College ’ s journey through the establishment and work of the Select Commission on Diversity , Equity & Inclusion and the impact of the various resolutions passed by the College and Foundation boards as a result of its efforts . She concluded by noting , “ We are at a historic moment as an industry . The work that the College and other organizations have done has the potential to be truly transformational . We need to recognize our collective power to truly make a difference in enhancing diversity , equity and inclusion in our profession – and by extension in our society . Only through being committed to using that power and leading on this issue will the path that has been laid out before us become a reality .”
Kelley Cornish , Second Circuit Regent and a member of the DEI Commission , shared her views about the importance of the event : “ As we all know , focusing on gender parity , in general , is not a new concept . It has been the topic of training programs and panel discussions and the like for decades ! And we ’ ve made real progress , to be sure …
But it is unquestionably the case that – like at Paul , Weiss right now – our incoming associate classes are comprised of roughly equal numbers of men and women . But when I look around me in the senior ranks of our profession , or even a generation below me , there are relatively very , very few women who are prominent in our field . There are many complicated reasons for this , to be sure . But we need to push forward and do better . As you will hear today , we must be intentional about it . It must become an imperative for all of us .”
Following the keynote speeches , Jessica Liou , a partner at Weil Gotshal , gave an impactful closing presentation , in which she commented as follows :
“( T ) here are three things I take away from this program : ( i ) knowledge , ( ii ) hope and ( iii ) action .… Programs like this — conversations like this — give me hope . Looking around this room , I am immediately struck by two things . First , I am struck by the number of women here . This is in stark contrast to my experience as a young associate more than a decade ago attending my very first hearing in the SDNY Bankruptcy Courthouse . Walking into that packed courtroom , I saw an intimidating sea of men in blue suits . I felt continued on page 32
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