Facebook Gathers Diversity Data On Outside Law Firms And Names A “Diversity Champion”

Facebook recently named Kilpatrick Townsend & Stockton LLP (“Kilpatrick”), one of the social media giant’s outside law firms, as the recipient of its first “Law Firm Diversity Champion Award.”  According to Law360, Facebook has been collecting diversity data on the 40 outside law firms that receive the largest portion of the company’s legal budget.  Facebook requires all of its outside counsel to staff company-related legal matters with at least 33% women and diverse attorneys and to provide those attorneys with meaningful opportunities for leadership.  The company’s scoring system for the award was based on each firm’s level of compliance with these billing guidelines, as well as the diversity programs the firms offer.  

Facebook selected Kilpatrick based on the firm’s staffing of the matters it handles for Facebook, and because it employs a high percentage of women and minority lawyers, provides leadership opportunities for those employees, and maintains diversity programs designed to attract and keep top talent.  Kilpatrick and the three runners-up for the award will work with Facebook on diversity initiatives for law students and midlevel and senior associates. 

This award is part of a larger effort by Facebook and other corporate legal departments to encourage diversity in its outside counsel.  Since January of this year, an open letter by 170 general counsel demanding that law firms improve on diversity has received at least 230 signatures.  

Faruqi & Faruqi, LLP is a minority-owned and woman-owned law firm that has a demonstrated commitment to diversity. The firm retains and promotes a diverse group of attorneys and professional staff.  Currently, over 20% of the firm’s leadership positions are held by women, and this figure continues to grow.