Diversity

DIVERSITY
Bingham McHale is strongly committed to diversity. We continue to make great strides with respect to our diversity efforts but we recognize that the efforts to diversify must be ongoing. It is our goal to be constantly vigilant in our diversity efforts. We are dedicated to a diverse environment and are committed to attracting, developing, retaining and promoting diverse talent. We encourage every attorney and staff member to recognize the value of diversity in achieving a satisfying and fulfilling work environment and creating a stronger firm.

VALUING DIVERSITY
We realize that diversity is a very important part of our firm culture and success. Diversity allows for differing perspectives and ideas. We recognize this fosters a creative and innovative work environment, which promotes personal and professional growth of our attorneys and staff members. A diverse environment allows us to best serve the interests and needs of our clients and the community.

FOSTERING DIVERSITY

Recently, Bingham McHale appointed a Diversity Director, Rod Morgan, a partner, to assist the firm with its diversity efforts. The Diversity Director is also the chair of the firm's Diversified Business Solutions Industry Team. The Diversity Director reports and works with the Management Committee and other firm personnel to design and implement an agenda for Bingham McHale that promotes, achieves, and maintains a diverse workplace. The Diversity Director opens and maintains direct lines of communication with minority groups within Bingham McHale to ensure that the interests and perspectives of all Bingham McHale attorneys and staff members are considered in firm decisions. The Diversity Director works with individuals and groups at Bingham McHale, however they may define themselves - by gender, race, sexual orientation, ethnicity, religious faith, age, disabiity or otherwise - to better enable the firm to meet their reasonable needs and aspirations.

Bingham McHale has also launched the Women's Forum. This group is designed to support and to enhance opportunities available to women, and to provide a forum for them to network and develop, both personally and professionally.

Bingham McHale fosters diversity by actively participating in a myriad of events, initiatives, and organizations committed to improving diversity. Those efforts include:

Bingham McHale Honors

• Diversity In Practice Award — Firm (Indiana Lawyer, Sept. 2007)
• Diversity In Practice Award — Attorney, Rod Morgan (Indiana Lawyer, Sept. 2007)
• President — Indianapolis Black Chamber of Commerce
• Board of Directors (Chairman) — Partners for Affordable Housing, Inc.
• Board of Directors — MultiCultural Task Force of the Indianapolis Children’s Museum

Bingham McHale Initiatives

• MBE alliance — Coleman Stevenson
• Corporate Sponsor — Asian American Alliance, Inc.
• Corporate Sponsor — Indiana Black Business Conference
• Corporate Sponsor — National Association of Women Business Owners
• Mentoring Program — Providence Cristo Rey High School
• Mentoring Program — Howe Middle School
• Community of Leaders (COL) Program — Charles A. Tindley Accelerated School
• Minority Corporate Counsel Association activities

Bingham McHale Participation

• Council on Legal Education Career Opportunities (CLEO) Fair
• Diversity Roundtable of Central Indiana
• Greater Indianapolis Chamber of Commerce (Diversity Council)
• Hispanic Business Council
• Indiana State Bar Association (Racial Diversity in the Legal Profession Committee)
• Indianapolis Mayor’s Commission on Latino Affairs
• Marion County Bar Association
• IU School of Law (Bloomington, Indianapolis) Mentoring and Mock Interview programs
• Cook County Bar Association Minority Law Student Job Fair

Coleman Stevenson
In 2007, Bingham McHale and Coleman Stevenson formed alliance to enhance diverse legal representation through co-counsel teams. This alliance will allow both firms to offer a full array of legal services to a broader base of clients, meeting the needs of our multicultural marketplace and global economy. The co-counsel teams have the resources to work on large, complex matters from local, regional and national organizations as well as to help emerging businesses get off to a strong start.

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