Bryan Cave Affinity Groups

The Women’s Forum

The Women’s Forum is our affinity group for women lawyers throughout the firm.  The Women’s Forum sponsors multiple programs and events in each of our U.S. offices addressing issues relevant to the retention and promotion of women lawyers.  Some recent highlights include:

• Workshops conducted by the firm’s chief professional development officer on career development planning, the associate evaluation process, and communication skills
• Workshops conducted by the firm’s chief marketing officer on creating a personal business development plan
• Roundtable discussions conducted by women partners on practice development, leadership skills, and work/life balance
• Informal gatherings in each office for women lawyers to get to each other and learn about each other’s practices
• Client events in multiple offices, including a panel discussion with in-house counsel in the entertainment industry addressing career development issues for women lawyers

Lawyers of Color

The Lawyers of Color affinity group’s signature program is Creating Connections Through Conversations − a series of informal social events that foster interaction and meaningful working relationships between partners and associates of color.  Creating Connections events draw wide participation by partners and senior firm leadership, including the firm Chair and members of the Executive and Management Committees, who routinely travel to attend the events in offices throughout the firm. In 2009, partners in our Lawyers of Color affinity group also used videoconferencing to present a series of inter-office presentations and panel discussions for associates of color on topics relating to professional development, advancement to partnership, building relationships within the firm, and client development. 

LGBT Lawyers

The LGBT Lawyers affinity group meets quarterly by video and telephone conference to discuss ways to ensure Bryan Cave provides an inclusive and supportive environment for openly lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender lawyers.  The group discusses topics including recruiting, mentoring, business development and community outreach.  In addition, Bryan Cave is proud that in 2009 the LGBT Lawyers affinity group undertook a signature pro bono relationship with the Family Equality Council, a national nonprofit organization working to ensure equality for LGBT families.  Lawyers throughout the firm – both gay and straight -- contributed to the affinity group’s work on behalf of the FEC.