Partner-led Governance
The Diversity Initiative is governed by a global diversity committee comprised of partners from around the world who work in conjunction with regional and local committees in the U.S. and London. Its focus is to ensure that best practices are implemented in providing appropriate hiring, training and professional opportunities for minority attorneys; and support innovative paths to achieving total inclusion for all individuals in all spheres.

Affinity Groups
The Firm has four affinity groups: Asian, Black, Hispanic and LGBT. These groups serve as key resources for professional development, recruitment and retention. We are pleased to feature here the mission statement of our London LGBT group - Spectrum - and our Event Highlights.

Diversity Speaker Series
This regular series is dedicated to provocative discussion and debate with speakers on a variety of subjects. Our guests have included James Earl Jones, Gloria Steinem, Wangari Maathai, Craig Venter, Michael Palin and Sarah Ferguson. This program raises awareness, understanding and tolerance by introducing a broad spectrum of topics and encouraging the sharing of ideas and perspectives.

Pro Bono
Our pro bono practice seeks to offer our lawyers opportunities to work on meaningful matters for diverse communities. Here are several exciting ways in which White & Case lawyers have been active in Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender communities.

Self-Identification Survey
Completed by staff in our US and London offices, the survey allows us to better understand our people so that we can tailor programs specific to their needs. It also provides useful information for our client and government mandated reports.

Sponsorships
Addressing diversity issues at the early stages of the pipeline is critical to our efforts. We make it a priority to sponsor and support programs that help improve the education and career guidance of minority students such as:

• Cristo Rey New York High School—As a participant in Cristo Rey's unique Corporate Work Study Program, we bring in students to work in our offices, giving them the chance to earn up to 70% of the cost of their education.
• Practicing Attorneys for Law Students Program (PALS), Inc.—We provide talented minority law students with mentoring, career guidance, and education/networking opportunities through our financial support and the personal commitment of our attorneys who serve as mentors to individual students.
• White & Case Award for Best Student Note at Howard University Law School—An annual monetary award given to the law student at Howard University Law School who writes the best note published in the Howard Law Journal. The award recipient is also nominated for the Burton Foundation Award.
• White & Case/Orison Marden Fellowship—Established at New York University in honor of Orison Marden, a leading partner at White & Case who served as longtime director and chairman of the board of The Legal Aid Society, this fund supports summer fellowships for 1L students who choose to work in a public interest capacity in developing nation economies and preferably at organizations which focus on the advancement of women and children.
• Mexican American Bar Foundation - We co-sponsor the Foundation's annual Gala and fund a scholarship to Hispanic/Latino law students attending ABA approved law schools in the Los Angeles area.