Cultivating an environment at Sidley where every person can be the most genuine version of themselves is integral to the quality of legal services we provide to our global client base. The most creative, intellectually successful teams perform best when they encompass diversity of thought, approach, ability, and knowledge. To that end, we bring inclusive teams to our client relationships and diversity partnerships for the widest perspectives and most compelling legal strategies.
Sidley is able to thrive, in no small part, due to our commitment to diversify our ranks, build an inclusive and welcoming culture, and foster inclusion and collegiality within the greater legal profession.
We seek to accomplish these goals by offering a network of support that enables lawyers of diverse backgrounds to succeed — from our first-year associates to those at the partnership level. Lawyers, law students, and our professional staff have a wealth of opportunities to reach their full potential through high-quality educational programming, mentoring, professional development, and affinity initiatives. Even alumni — our extended Sidley family — benefit from the networking opportunities we host, as well as thought leadership and profile-raising platforms.
As advocates for a more equitable society, we are dedicated to supporting and investing in civic and corporate leadership opportunities that celebrate the achievements, history, and culture of diverse global communities. We seek opportunities to join forces with clients and local organizations to further our mutual commitment to diversity and inclusion using the power of the law, advocacy, and education. Our lawyers around the world work collaboratively on a range of matters, including many that contribute to monumental legal decisions that bring hope to marginalized individuals and groups. Together, we can harness the strength of our unique voices and backgrounds to combat injustice and advance and protect the fundamental principles of equality, inclusion, justice, and integrity.
Incidents of racial violence and systemic discrimination, while disheartening, present us with opportunities to exemplify our core values and renew our resolve to support inclusion in the communities where we live and work. This is a pivotal moment in our society. From all corners of the world, people are demonstrating the extraordinary strength that comes from uniting as one to bring about change. Although we are facing new challenges, we, as a firm, will meet them together and are committed to doing everything we can to contribute to a better future for humanity.
Companies, clients and other organizations have long recognized Sidley as a leader in diversity and inclusion. Below is a snapshot of the awards and recognition the firm has received since 2010.
2020
- Best Law Firms for Women and Hall of Fame Winner, Working Mother
- U.S. Gold Standard Certification, Women in Law Empowerment Forum
- UK Gold Standard Certification, Women in Law Empowerment Forum
- “Perfect” 100 score, Human Rights Campaign’s 2020 Corporate Equality Index (CEI) report
- Ranked among “Top Firms for Women in Leadership,” Yale Law Women 2020 Top Firms for Gender Equity & Family Friendliness Report
2019
- “Perfect” 100 score, Human Rights Campaign’s Corporate Equality Index (CEI) report
- Best Law Firms for Diversity (2020), Vault
- Named one of the of Best Law Firms for Women, Working Mother
- Champions for Disability Inclusion in the Legal Profession Award, American Bar Association Commission on Disability Rights
- U.S. Gold Standard Certification, Women in Law Empowerment Forum
- UK Gold Standard Certification, Women in Law Empowerment Forum
2018
- Named one of the of Best Law Firms for Women, Working Mother
- “Excellence in Diversity Award,” Discover Financial Law Department
- “Outstanding Firm in Advancing Gender Diversity and Inclusion,” Chambers Women in Law Awards: USA
- Gold Certification, Women in Law Empowerment Forum
- Named in the Yale Law Women’s 2018 Top Ten Family Friendly Firms Report for category honors in “Leadership & Promotions: At Least 50% of Attorneys Promoted to Equity Partner in 2017 Were Women”
- “Perfect” 100 score, Human Rights Campaign’s Corporate Equality Index (CEI) report
- Diversity Award, MetLife
2017
- Law Firm Award of Excellence, Freddie Mac Legal Division
- “Perfect” 100 score, Human Rights Campaign’s Corporate Equality Index (CEI) report
- Ranked #14 on Vault’s list of the “25 Best Law Firms for Overall Diversity”
- Gold Certification, Women in Law Empowerment Forum
- “Most Inclusive Firm for Minority Women Lawyers,” Chambers Women in Law Awards: USA
- 50 Best Law Firms for Women, Working Mother magazine
- A Top Law Firm for LGBTQ Equality, Equality Illinois
2016
- “Perfect” 100 score, Human Rights Campaign’s CEI report
- 25 “Best Law Firms for Overall Diversity,” Vault
- Gold Certification, Women in Law Empowerment Forum
- “Most Pioneering Firm for Female Lawyers,” Chambers Diversity USA Awards
- 50 Best Law Firms for Women, Working Mother magazine and Flex-Time Lawyers
- Top Law Firm for LGBT Equality, Equality Illinois
- Law Firm Honoree, Dominican Bar Association 13th Annual Scholarship Gala
- Allstate General Counsel’s “Excellence in Diversity Award”
2015
- “Perfect” 100 score, Human Rights Campaign’s CEI report
- Gold Certification, Women in Law Empowerment Forum
- “Most Pioneering Gender Diversity Initiative,” Chambers Diversity
- 50 Best Law Firms for Women, Working Mother magazine and Flex-Time Lawyers
- Top Law Firm for LGBT Equality, Equality Illinois
- “Joan Guggenheimer Diversity Champion Award,” JPMorgan Chase
- State Bar Diversity Award, State Bar of California
- IDEA (Innovation, Development, Engagement, Advancement) Award, Association of Legal Administrators
- Diversity Firm of the Year, Benchmark Litigation US Awards
- Diversity Award, MetLife
2014
- “Perfect” 100 score, Human Rights Campaign’s CEI report
- Gold Certification, Women in Law Empowerment Forum
- 50 Best Law Firms for Women, Working Mother magazine and Flex-Time Lawyers
- Top Law Firm for LGBT Equality, Equality Illinois
- Leadership and Excellence in Inclusion and Diversity (LEID) Award, Morgan Stanley
- Diversity Firm of the Year, Benchmark Litigation US Awards
- Corporate Diversity Award, Association of Black Women Attorneys (ABWA)
- Best International Firm for Diversity, Euromoney LMG Americas, Women in Business Law Awards
- Best International Firm for Work-Life Balance, Euromoney LMG Europe, Women in Business Law Awards
2013
- “Perfect” 100 score, Human Rights Campaign’s CEI report
- 50 Best Law Firms for Women, Working Mother magazine and Flex-Time Lawyers
- Top Law Firm for LGBT Equality, Equality Illinois
- Pro Bono Publico Award, LatinoJustice/Puerto Rican Legal Defense and Education Fund. Sidley won this award for the firm’s work on an amicus brief filed in the U.S. Supreme Court in Shelby County, Alabama v. Eric H. Holder (2013) on behalf of LatinoJustice/PRLDEF, the Mexican Legal Defense and Education Fund, and 20 other Latino national organizations in support of the constitutionality of Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act.
- Top Ten Family Friendly Firm, Yale Law Women
2012
- “Perfect” 100 score, Human Rights Campaign’s CEI report
- Gold Certification, Women in Law Empowerment Forum
- Top Law Firm for LGBT Equality, Equality Illinois
- 9th Annual International Innovations in Diversity Award, Profiles in Diversity Journal. Sidley was recognized for the Sidley Prelaw Scholars Program
- Most Innovative Gender Diversity Initiative Award, Chambers USA Women in Law Awards
- Diversity Award, AT&T Legal Department
2011
- “Perfect” 100 score, Human Rights Campaign’s CEI report
- Gold Certification, Women in Law Empowerment Forum
- 50 Best Law Firms for Women, Working Mother magazine and Flex-Time Lawyers
- Top Law Firm for LGBT Equality, Equality Illinois
- Diversity Legal Award, Black Solicitors Network (BSN) UK Diversity Legal Awards. These national industry awards recognize the work of organizations and individuals who are making significant contributions in the area of promoting diversity within, and equality of access into, the legal profession in the UK.
- Top Ten Family Friendly Firms, Yale Law Women
2010
- “Perfect” 100 score, Human Rights Campaign’s CEI report
- 50 Best Law Firms for Women, Working Mother magazine and Flex-Time Lawyers
- Top Law Firm for LGBT Equality, Equality Illinois
- Top Ten Family Friendly Firms, Yale Law Women
