Management Leadership for Tomorrow (MLT) Approves Arnold & Porter’s Plan to Pursue Black Equity at Work Certification
Approval of the plan reinforces the firm’s commitment to achieve measurable and sustained progress
WASHINGTON, DC, January 19, 2022 — Arnold & Porter is pleased to announce that its formal plan to become Black Equity at Work Certified has been approved by Management Leadership for Tomorrow (MLT). The firm is part of the Inaugural Cohort of leading employers committed to achieving MLT Certification, a first-of-its-kind program that provides actionable standards for employers that want to achieve Black equity.
Richard M. Alexander, Chairman of Arnold & Porter, said: “Our work on the development of our plan reflects our firmwide commitment to achieving Black equity at work and reinforces our core value of cultivating an equitable work environment. With approval of our plan, we will now move forward to implement each of its core elements. The successful implementation of our plan will drive meaningful change at our firm and, we hope, will serve as a model for others across the legal profession.”
The approved plan was developed to focus on the five MLT Black Equity At Work Pillars: Black representation at every level; employee compensation; inclusive, anti-racist work environment; racially-just business practices; and racial justice contributions and investments. As part of its comprehensive roadmap, the plan outlines measurable goals and proactive steps for prioritizing the recruitment, retention, and advancement of Black professionals at Arnold & Porter. It also includes recurring progress check-ins with MLT to ensure benchmarks for progress are met.
“We’re honored to participate in this program with MLT, a leader at transforming talent pipelines and propelling change throughout various industries and communities, to execute the firm’s plan for increasing Black equity,” said Brenda Carr, Chief Diversity & Inclusion Officer.
Arnold & Porter’s participation in the MLT Certification program builds on the firm’s actions aimed at the retention and advancement of Black professionals. Last year, the firm announced initiatives to advance Black associates at AmLaw firms, increase the pipeline of students of color, and address equity in the US education system. Information about each of the firm's partnerships with the National Bar Association, A Better Chance, and the Advancement Project is available here.
About Arnold & Porter
With nearly 1,000 lawyers practicing in 13 offices around the globe, Arnold & Porter serves clients across 40 distinct practice areas. The firm offers 100 years of renowned regulatory expertise, sophisticated litigation and transactional practices, and leading multidisciplinary offerings in the life sciences and financial services industries.