Diversity & Inclusion

Commitment to diversity and inclusion is a core value at Kaufman & Canoles, and it is our mission to maintain equality throughout all aspects of our business.  Not only does it make us a stronger, better service provider for our clients, it is simply the right thing to do. That’s why we have established a Diversity & Inclusion Committee to:

  • Develop policies to recruit, hire and retain more attorneys of diverse backgrounds;
  • Promote the firm’s image as a leader in the profession and in our communities committed to inclusiveness in employment; and
  • Emphasize the importance of diversity and inclusion in the firm’s recruiting, retention, mentoring, leadership development, training and community outreach.

In an effort to improve our recruiting of talented diverse attorneys, we focus on early identification of minority candidates who demonstrate an aptitude for and interest in the legal profession, sponsor events in our community that raise awareness and funds for minority organizations, attend diversity seminars, host minority recruiting events to introduce students to the firm, and serve on non-profit boards that promote diversity within our community.

  • Diversity & Inclusion Events

     

    The K&C Diversity & Inclusion Committee participated in the following 2022 events:

     

    Virginia Women in Public Finance – Virginia Chapter Gold Annual Sponsorship 2022
       
         
    Hampton Roads Chamber Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Forum: Collaboration February 24, 2022
       
         
    Virginia Center for Inclusive Communities 58th Annual Tidewater Humanitarian Awards Dinner March 28, 2022
       
         
    William & Mary Black Law Students Association Oliver Hill Scholarship Banquet/Alumni Weekend April 9, 2022
       
         
    Hampton Roads Community Foundation Racial Inequities in Law: A Virtual Discussion on the Intersectionality of Equity, Laws and Policy in Our Region May 24, 2022
       
         
     Civil Rights Institute Annual symposium exploring civil rights through legal and societal perspectives. June 6-7, 2022
     

     

     

         
    Southeastern Minority Job Fair Southeastern Minority Job Fair July 14-15, 2022
       
         
    Hampton Roads Chamber Virtual Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Forum  
       
         
    Virginia Center for Inclusive Communities Inclusion Summit September 19, 2022
       
         
    Virginia Center for Inclusive Communities Firm-Wide Implicit Bias Training October, 2022
       
         

    The K&C Diversity & Inclusion Committee participated in the following 2021 events:

     

         
    American Bar Association Forum D&I Brunch: The Architecture of Inclusion: Keys to Designing and Building a Diverse, Equitable, and Inclusive Workplace February 18, 2021
       
         
    Virginia Center for Inclusive Communities 57th Annual Tidewater Humanitarian Awards Dinner March 18, 2021
       
         
    Richmond SHRM 7th Annual Diversity & Inclusion Symposium May 20, 2021
       
         
    Old Dominion Bar Association Annual Meeting May 20-23, 2021
       
         
    Southeastern Minority Job Fair Southeastern Minority Job Fair July 15-16, 2021
       
         
    William & Mary Law School Affinity Group Reception October 13, 2021
    William & Mary Law School    
         
    Mid-Atlantic Black Law Students Association (MABLSA) Virginia Academic Retreat October 23, 2021
       
         

     

    The K&C Diversity & Inclusion Committee participated in the following 2020 events:

         
    Hampton Roads Chamber 2020 Diversity Forum – The Business Case for Diversity & Inclusion February 19, 2020
       
         
    Virginia Bar Association’s Young Lawyers Division Law School Liaison Recruiting Roundtable June 10, 2020
       
         
    Hampton Roads Chamber Virtual Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Forum July 9, 2020
       
         
    Virginia State Bar (VSB) Virtual Town Hall with the VSB Young Lawyers and Diversity Conference July 23, 2020
       
         
    Women’s March  Feminist Future Series #3: Respect, Principles and Solidarity: Concrete Tools For White Women To Dismantle Racist Systems August 13, 2020
       
         
    Virginia Center for Inclusive Communities Tidewater Humanitarian Awards Dinner August 26, 2020
       
         
    The Virginia Bar Association (VBA) Working Toward Solutions: Workshops on Diversity and Inclusion Part 1 September 2, 2020
       
         
    Richmond SHRM 6th Annual Diversity & Inclusion Symposium September 23, 2020
       
         
    The Virginia Bar Association (VBA) Time to Talk: Explicitly Addressing Implicit Bias September 24, 2020
       
         
    The Virginia Bar Association (VBA) Working Towards Solutions: Workshop on Diversity and Inclusion Part 2 October 13, 2020
       
         
    Hampton Roads Chamber HR Chamber Virtual Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Forum – How Businesses are Creating an Inclusive Culture December 3, 2020
       
         

     

    The K&C Diversity & Inclusion Committee participated in the following 2019 events:

         
    Hampton Roads Chamber  2nd Annual Diversity in Business Forum Feb. 21, 2019
       
         
    Greater Richmond SHRM 5th Annual Diversity & Inclusion Symposium March 21, 2019
       
         
    University of Virginia Black Law Students Association Spring Diversity Reception April 8, 2019
         
    William & Mary Black Law Students Association Annual Oliver Hill Scholarship Banquet April 13, 2019
       
         
    Hampton Roads Association of Legal Administrators (HRALA) Monthly Luncheon – 25 Diversity & Inclusion Tips June 11, 2019
       
         
    Southeastern Minority Job Fair (SEMJF) Bronze Sponsor at the Southeastern Minority Job Fair July 19, 2019
       
         
    Virginia State Bar (VSB) 2nd Annual State Forum on Legal Diversity September 20, 2019
       
         
    Mid-Atlantic Black Law Students Association (MABLSA) Virginia Academic Retreat October 19, 2019
       
         
    University of Richmond Affinity Group Reception October 21, 2019
       
         
    Hampton Roads Chamber Diversity in Business Forum October 22, 2019
       
         
    Virginia State Bar YLC Annual Bench-Bar Dinner October 29, 2019
       
         

     

    The K&C Diversity & Inclusion Committee participated in the following 2018 events:

         
    Mid-Atlantic Black Law Students Association (MABLSA) 50th Annual Regional Convention Feb. 7-11, 2018
       
         
    William & Mary Black Law Students Association (BLASA) Annual Oliver Hill Scholarship Banquet Feb. 24, 2018
         
    Richmond Society for Human Resource Management 4th Annual Diversity and Inclusion Symposium March 15, 2018
       
         
    University of Virginia Black Law Students Association Spring Diversity Reception March 29, 2018
         
         
    William & Mary Law Career Center Diversity Association Meet & Greet Sept. 21, 2018
       
         

     

    The K&C Diversity & Inclusion Committee participated in the following 2017 events:

         
    American Bar Association Implementing Diversity and Inclusion Initiative in the
    Workplace Webinar
    Jan. 24, 2017
       
         
    William & Mary 1L-Alumni Mock Interview Program Feb. 3, 2017
       
         
    PLI On-Demand Web Program Diversity & Inclusion in Law Practice 2016 Feb. 10, 2017
         
    Virginia State Bar YLC Annual Bench-Bar Dinner Jepson Alumni Center, Richmond March 8, 2017
         
    William & Mary Black Law Student Association (BLSA) BLSA Oliver Hill Brunch April 8, 2017
       
         
    The Southeastern Minority Job Fair (SEMJF) Gold Sponsor at the Southeastern Minority Job Fair July 21-22, 2017
       
         
    Mid-Atlantic Black Law Students Association Regional Job Fair Table Talk Sponsor at the MABLSA Job Fair Aug. 12, 2017
         
    Virginia Center for Inclusive Communities Eastern VA Regional Diversity & Inclusion Conference Nov. 1, 2017
       
     
     
  • Letter from Diversity & Inclusion Chair

     

    We know that a diverse workplace makes us better at what we do – serving our clients and our communities.  At Kaufman & Canoles, we recognize the social necessity of a diversity policy, but also understand that it is a crucial factor in our business success. To compete in a global marketplace and to serve corporate clients who express their diversity expectation in their representation, we must also demand diversity and equality within the firm. Our future depends on the recruitment and retention of talented, young, and experienced lawyers. We would be remiss to exclude such a large talent base by not embracing diversity among our attorneys.

     

    As Chair of the Diversity & Inclusion Committee and a mother of two young children, I am proud to lead the nine-member Committee which is committed to increasing and strengthening diversity and inclusion at Kaufman & Canoles.  Should you have any questions about our diversity initiatives, I welcome you to contact me.

     

    Sincerely,

    Mary Elizabeth Sherwin

     
  • Equal Employment Opportunity Policy

    Kaufman & Canoles is committed to equal employment opportunity (EEO) in all aspects of our employment and retention practices and decisions. From recruiting to hiring, from training to promotion, from compensation to employee benefits, and everywhere in our workplace environment we are dedicated to achieving this requirement.

     

    EEO is not just the law; it is our philosophy and our expectation. We will evaluate and treat  all applicants and employees without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, genetic information, and non-disqualifying disability. We will make reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with a disability to enable them to perform the essential elements of their position.

     

    We want to stress our seriousness regarding this policy and practice. We will take prompt and appropriate actions to ensure that qualified applicants and employees are not subjected to unlawful discrimination and/or harassment in any term or condition of employment on the basis of any currently or subsequently protected class or status including the above, and we also prohibit discrimination and/or harassment on the basis of veteran or marital status, sexual preference, and gender identity.

     

    We will invite employees to voluntarily self-identify any protected class or status so that we can ensure our workforce diversity. Persons choosing not to self-disclose will not be placed at any disadvantage. Overall data submitted will be evaluated by management.

     

    All of our employees will share in our commitment to EEO. Management personnel in particular undertake responsibility for implementation and achievement of the goals and requirements of our policy. When appropriate, compliance with our policy will be evaluated and unsatisfactory performance or conduct will be addressed. No employee will be subjected to discipline or retaliation for making a complaint regarding a failure of our required EEO practices or for assisting or acting as a witness for an applicant or another employee.