The exceptional people who work at Kelley Drye, and the ways in which they are different from one another, contribute to and foster the Firm's culture of diversity. But what does "diversity" mean?

Concentrating efforts on the traditional categories of diversity, including race, gender, age, religion, country of origin, sexual orientation, and physical disabilities, is essential to the creation of a workplace that welcomes differences among employees. At Kelley Drye, our focus is not limited to these important characteristics alone. We are able to cultivate a diverse workplace by embracing these, as well as other, less defined aspects of our employees' individuality, such as varying perspectives and different life experiences.

This allows us to cultivate an environment that values inclusion: one that celebrates the uniqueness of our employees, and empowers them to succeed. This approach contributes to our growth as a firm, and in turn, allows us to better serve our clients.

Programs:

1. In 1999, Kelley Drye adopted The Association of the Bar of the City of New York's Restatement and Reaffirmation of Goals for Increasing Minority Retention and Promotion. The Restatement was based upon findings that, while there had been an increase in the hiring of minority lawyers at New York City law firms during the prior six years, this increase had not carried over into increased retention and promotion of minority lawyers.
   
   In adopting the Restatement and Reaffirmation of Goals, Kelley Drye has committed to achieving the goal of hiring minority lawyers equal to 10% of the total number of all lawyers hired by the Firm.
   
   Since adopting the Restatement and Reaffirmation of Goals, Kelley Drye has met, and continues to exceed, this objective.
   
   
2. Kelley Drye has enacted an affirmative action program which aims to ensure that individuals continue to be recruited, hired, assigned and promoted without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, citizenship, sex, veteran's status, age, or non-job-related disability of any kind. In addition, the program seeks to ensure that other personnel actions, including but not limited to compensation, benefits, access to training, education, tuition assistance and social recreation programs are administered without regard to the factors set forth above.
   
   
3. Kelley Drye has taken many other steps toward increasing and supporting diversity among its incoming classes and throughout the Firm. For example, the Firm participates in the Association of the Bar of the City of New York's Minority Fellowship Program, which allows one first-year law student an opportunity to work as a summer associate with the Firm. This student receives the same benefits and salary as all other summer associates and, based on his or her performance, is eligible for an offer of employment for the following summer and/or an offer of employment following the completion of law school.
   
   
4. Kelley Drye also sponsors events with female summer associates and attorneys in order to promote and support the Firm's female attorneys. Most recently, two partners presented and hosted a seminar entitled "Going Out On Your Own: Some Legal and Tax Considerations," designed specifically for female owners of small businesses.

EEO Policy:

Kelley Drye & Warren LLP is an equal opportunity employer. The Firm always has been, and continues to be, committed to providing equal opportunity to all its employees and applicants for employment. It is therefore the policy of the Firm to hire, train and promote its employees and to administer all other employment policies without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, citizenship status, sexual orientation, marital status, religious affiliations, alienage, veteran status, and without regard to the disability of qualified people or on any other basis prohibited by applicable federal, state or local civil rights laws.

Recent Developments:

State Bar News Highlights Kelley Drye’s Support of Scholarship and Diversity