Emery Harlan Co-Authors “Uninvited: Preferred Counsel Lists and How They Limit Minority-and Women-Owned Law Firms’ Access to Legal Work”
December 4, 2014
Emery Harlan co-authored, along with Joel Stern, CEO of the National Association of Minority and Women Owned Law Firms (NAMWOLF) and NAMWOLF law firm members, an article published by the American Bar Association’s Litigation Section on December 1, 2014. The article entitled “Uninvited: Preferred Counsel Lists and How They Limit Minority- and Women-Owned Law Firms’ Access to Legal Work” details how preferred counsel lists operate as an unintended barrier for many of the top minority and women lawyers in minority- and women-owned law firms to access for work from major corporations.
The article also proposes solutions for corporations to include diverse firms in preferred counsel lists, which offers experienced and pedigreed attorneys who are ready, willing, and able to do the work. Increased retention of diverse firms will ensure that legal departments realize all their performance expectations for outside counsel, including diversity and inclusion goals.
