Thomson Reuters to Host Event on LGBTQ Representation and the Legal Industry
Are you interest in LGBTQ rights and the legal industry? Planning on being in or around New York City on November 7th? Then here's something you might want to check out.
Thomson Reuters Legal Executive Institute is hosting an election-eve event on LGBTQ rights and the law in New York, entitled OutLaw: Critical Dialogues on LGBTQ Representation and Corporate Leadership. (Disclosure: Thomson Reuters is FindLaw's parent company.) The day-long event will feature leaders from the legal and corporate worlds and "earnest dialogue around galvanizing business leaders toward more inclusive enterprise cultures and leadership opportunities."
What to Expect If You Attend
Attendees can expect to gain "frank and constructive advice" about making an inclusive corporate culture, as well as regulatory and compliance updates regarding LGBTQ workplace policies, and, of course, networking opportunities. (There's an OutLaws and Rebels "cocktail soirée" at the end.)
Justin Xenitelis, General Counsel of Thor Equities, and Givonna St. Clair Long, a partner at Kelley, Drye & Warren, will co-chair the event. If you're interested, you can book your spot now, or apply for one of a limited number of complimentary passes.
An Evolving Legal Landscape
Panel topics will cover LGBTQ representation in the C-suite and board of directors, retaining LGBTQ legal talent, and the evolving nature of LGBTQ employment and non-discrimination laws. Speakers include partners at some of the country's biggest law firms, lawyers from nonprofit advocacy groups, and representatives from major businesses.
One panelist, Ken Weissenberg of EisnerAmper, recently spoke with LEI's Gregg Wirth and emphasized the shifting nature of LGBTQ workplace protections. On the one hand, you have undeniable advances in LGBTQ marriage rights. On the other, you have an increasingly contentions split over the employment rights of gays, lesbians, and transgender individuals and whether anti-discrimination laws cover gay and trans workers as part of their prohibition on sex discrimination.
"We are still fighting this, court by court and case by case," Weissenberg said. In the meantime, "If law firms and corporate legal departments want the best people, they need to create the safest and most positive workplaces and commit to these policies on paper."
Related Resources:
- Are Law Firms More Inclusive of LGBT Employees? (FindLaw's Strategist)
- Lawyers: How to Make Conventions, Conferences Work for You (FindLaw's Strategist)
- 5 Best Ways to Network, When You Don't Want to Network (FindLaw's Strategist)