Global law firm K&L Gates LLP has been named one of the “Best Places to Work for Disability Inclusion” in the 2024 Disability Equality Index (DEI), one of only nine law firms to achieve the distinction.

Celebrating its tenth anniversary, the DEI was established in 2015 by Disability:IN and The American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD) and is recognized as an objective, reflective, forward-thinking, and confidential disability rating tool designed to assist businesses in advancing inclusive practices. The index is a comprehensive benchmark for disability inclusion in business, helping companies to assess their initiatives; communicate these initiatives to employees, consumers, regulators, and investors; and drive long-term value creation. Results of the index are measured across six categories:

• Culture and leadership;
• Enterprise-wide access;
• Accommodations, benefits, and employment practices;
• Recruitment, employment, education, and retention;
• Community engagement; and
• Supplier diversity.

“We are thrilled to announce that our firm has been recognized as a Best Place to Work for Disability Inclusion by Disability:IN for the second consecutive year,” said Shiau Yen Chin-Dennis, chair of K&L Gates’ firmwide Diversity Committee. “This prestigious distinction is a testament to our unwavering commitment to fostering an inclusive and supportive work environment for all employees.”

Alongside its participation in the DEI, K&L Gates has continued to prioritize diversity and inclusion initiatives across the firm, obtaining Mansfield Rule certification for the past three consecutive years. The firm has also been recognized by the Leadership Council on Legal Diversity, Women in Law Empowerment Forum, and Human Rights Campaign Foundation’s Corporate Equality Index, as well as maintained key partnerships including, but not limited to, the National Association of Women Lawyers, National Asian Pacific American Bar Association, National LGBTQ+ Bar Association, National Hispanic Bar Association, Diversity Council Australia, and American Bar Association’s Commission on Disability Rights.

K&L Gates also fosters a range of internal D&I programs, including its mentoring program, firmwide speaker series, and Power of Partnership recruiting program. In 2020, the Diversity and Pro Bono committees launched K&L Gates for Equal Justice, a joint initiative harnessing legal skills to promote unity and equal justice.

For more about K&L Gates’ commitment to diversity and inclusion, please visit the firm’s Diversity and Inclusion webpage.