A Law Firm Culture of Excellence, A History of Inclusion
As a certified Minority Business Enterprise (MBE), Gonzalez Saggio & Harlan LLP’s (“GSH”) diversity philosophy began when the firm was founded in 1989. Since then, we have encouraged talented minority and women attorneys to join and grow along with the Firm and recognize the value of inclusion. Today, 87% of GSH ownership is minority and 93% minority and women combined ownership. In addition, more than 65% of GSH attorneys are minorities and women, a figure we believe is unmatched nationwide for a firm our size.
GSH believes that it must utilize and recruit from the entire resources of the community to best service clients and maximize opportunities. GSH has a history of being a national leader in diversity within the legal profession. We continue to emphasize and strengthen our diversity as a distinct advantage throughout our firm. This includes tying our diverse nature into community leadership. It also means we invest to position ourselves and our firm image nationally as a leader in diversity that transcends legal services.
GSH is one of two law firms named as a Corporate Plus Member of the National Minority Supplier Development Council (NMSDC), which recognizes MBEs that have proven nationwide capabilities. GSH was awarded as a 2011 NMSDC Regional Supplier of the Year, a very high honor, considering that 16,000 businesses across the country were eligible.
GSH has been recognized as responsible for changing diversity in the legal profession. For example, Jerry Gonzalez and Emery Harlan founded the National Association of Minority and Women Owned Law Firms (NAMWOLF) to promote the retention of qualified and diverse law firms to Fortune 500 Corporations. Having started with only seven law firms ten years ago, NAMWOLF now boasts more than 120 member firms and hundreds of corporate and public entities that have joined as corporate partners.
GSH does not have a “Diversity Manager.” Our diversity metrics speak for themselves. Candidly, it is our view that organizations that are truly committed to diversity do not have a need for a Diversity Manager. Not only have we achieved unparalleled diversity within our firm and through our work in forming NAMWOLF, we work tirelessly to achieve greater diversity within the profession as a whole.
GSH also utilizes minority and women-owned vendors whenever possible and has also partnered with other minority-owned law firms and majority firms to assist corporate and governmental entities in achieving their diversity goals.
GSH reflects the nation in a way that helps us bring practical counsel to our clients while respecting the different communities we practice in. Importantly, we embrace and understand the local culture and customs that exist throughout the United States. We carefully listen to our clients to match our services with their objectives. This has manifested in the continuing growth of the firm into a unique national law firm.
Recent Recognition:
- 2014 “Trailblazer Award” - Wisconsin State Department of Commerce, Governor’s Conference on Minority Business Development
- 2014 “Corporation of the Year” – Driver of Diversity Awards, presented by ONE MKE
- 2012 “Corporation of the Year” – Named by the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of Wisconsin
- ““Top 500 Diversity Owned Businesses in the U.S.” – Named by DiversityBusiness.com (2006, 2007, 2008, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015)
- 2011 NMSDC Regional Supplier of the Year Award
- 2009 “Good Citizen Award” - Wisconsin State Department of Commerce, Governor’s Conference on Minority Business Development
