Lots of firms want us to know that they are among the 64 to win a "perfect" rating in the Corporate Equality Index (.pdf).
We're kinda interested in the ones that didn't. Like D.C. patent shop Finnegan, Henderson, which scored a 40 (out of 100), the second lowest among surveyed U.S. law firms. Scoring beneath it was Memphis, Tenn.-based Baker Donelson, which scored 35. Both lost points on diversity training and domestic partner benefits and for not banning discrimination based on gender identity. Finnegan doesn't even prohibit discriminating on the basis of sexual orientation -- the only law firm, and one of only a few firms in any reviewed industries, to not do so.
Another low scorer is Holme, Roberts, the Denver-based firm that's made a big push into California. It scored 60 after being dinged for not holding gender identity diversity training as well as not barring discrimination based on gender identity. The firm also lost 15 points for not "positively engag[ing] the external LGBT community."
Boston's Goodwin Procter and Richmond's Hunton & Williams -- two other firms pushing into the California market, scored 75; gender identity issues tripped them up, too. Reed Smith, whose California roots go deeper, had the same problem, and the same score. Morgan Lewis & Bockius wasn't much better, earning an 80.
— Greg Mitchell
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