Covington & Burling LLP | Diversity

Lawyers of diverse backgrounds have succeeded and prospered at Covington for decades. We were leaders among larger law firms in electing our first woman partner (in 1974), first African American partner (1975), first Hispanic partner (1985), first openly gay partner (1989), and first Asian American partner (1995). We have continued this tradition through the years, recruiting and promoting lawyers of all backgrounds. We are committed to cultivating a diverse partnership from within our own ranks. Indeed, the overwhelming majority of our women and minority partners began their legal careers at Covington.

Seated: Michael Baxter, Jennifer Johnson, Catherine Dargan
Standing: Eric Holder, Lisa Peets, Tom Williamson, Loretta Shaw-Lorello

Our firm governance also reflects our commitment to diversity. Women and minority partners serve on our Management Committee, which is elected by the full partnership and is responsible for guiding the strategic direction of the firm. In addition, our women, minority, and openly gay lawyers:

Play senior roles on firm committees, including our Evaluation, Diversity, Public Service, Legal Personnel (hiring), Business, and Budget Committees. The responsibilities of the Legal Personnel and Evaluation Committees include recruiting and recommending diverse candidates for partnership.
Lead four of our five umbrella practice groups: Corporate, Tax & Benefits; Industries, Regulatory & Legislative; Litigation; and Technology & Media.
Lead 17 individual practice groups within the firm.

While we are proud of the steps we already have taken, we understand that the job of promoting diversity is never complete. We strive not just to keep pace with our peers, but rather to lead by example and continue raising the bar for our entire profession. As such, we are constantly examining our progress, improving our efforts, and searching for new and challenging ways to create a more diverse work environment.

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