Diversity, Equity & Inclusion

Lead by example.

Working tirelessly to build a more diverse and inclusive legal profession.

At Quarles, every person counts, every day. We are leaders in mentoring and developing outstanding diverse attorneys and business professionals. Yet, there is more work to do and we’re rising to the opportunity with shared purpose.

Focused on winning outcomes, not accolades.

Routinely ranked among the best law firms for diversity, equity and inclusion — with inclusive benefits and policies, holistic learning and development curriculums with a wellness focus, and business resource groups — we are proud of our accomplishments and the many accolades we have received.

A true climate of inclusion, though, cannot be measured by diversity statistics, ratings and awards alone. We measure success by our ability to actively encourage and promote diversity of thought, perspectives and experiences so we can collectively develop creative solutions to meet our client’s needs. But for us, it does not stop there. We have a responsibility to build a more diverse and inclusive legal profession that considers accessibility and equity in decision-making. Equally important, we are committed to reflecting and strengthening the diversity of our communities.

Learn more in this video about why DEI matters to us.

Embracing the uniqueness of each person.

We strive to foster a positive and inclusive environment across our organization. We value the unique experiences and perspectives of each team member and are committed to helping everyone at Quarles reach their full potential.

Hear about the personal DEI journeys of some of our colleagues in this video.

Commitment in action.

For many years, Quarles has implemented robust policies and programs to recruit, train and support underrepresented attorneys and business professionals, so every member of the Quarles team can fully realize their potential and enjoy successful careers. The firm’s DEI efforts include:

Firmwide Committee

The Quarles DEI committee is comprised of representatives from each of our offices and includes partners, associates and administrators, as well as members of the firm’s executive committee. Managing Partner Michael Aldana co-chairs the committee with Steven Hunter and Emily Feinstein. Among its many achievements, the committee spurred firm leadership to formalize policies around the meaningful inclusion of women and minorities in new business pitches and resulting new matters, with tactics to monitor and measure inclusion.

Local Councils 

There is a DEI council in each office, comprised of local attorneys and business professionals. The Diversity Council educates employees on diversity and inclusion matters, and regularly sponsors guest speakers on a variety of subjects such as autism, transgender issues, challenges related to the deaf and hard of hearing, and other salient topics.

Business Resource Groups

The firm sponsors business resource groups for its women and diverse attorneys to create internal networks to assist with business development and foster an increased sense of community and camaraderie in the workplace.

Employee Resource Groups

The firm sponsors employee resource and affinity groups for its business professionals to create internal networks to foster an increased sense of community and camaraderie in the workplace.

Supplier Diversity

Our commitment to DEI extends to our suppliers and vendors, with a supplier diversity program that represents our promise to our clients and ourselves. We seek to work with vendors who share our values, and we want to do our part to support the development of LGBTQ-, minority-, women-, veteran- and service-disabled veteran-owned businesses in all of the communities in which we live and work.

Through our supplier diversity program, we strive to:

• Provide opportunities and access to new markets for businesses with diverse ownership to succeed.
• Continually seek out new, better sources for products and services.
• Develop innovative and flexible business solutions that maximize our ability to deliver outstanding results for clients.
• Strengthen our business performance, enabling our continued long-term success.
• Reinforce awareness among clients, suppliers and the general community of Quarles as a firm that embraces diversity on every level.

Supplier Non-Discrimination Policy

Quarles & Brady LLP has a long-standing policy of fair and equal employment opportunity for every person regardless of age, race, color, creed, religion, disability, marital status, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression, national origin, ancestry, citizenship or other legally protected status.  Quarles requires its suppliers to adhere to a policy of non-discrimination based on the categories listed above.

To receive a supplier diversity application, please contact:

Dave Wilson
Senior Manager, Purchasing
414.277.5223
dave.wilson@quarles.com

For other questions about our supplier diversity program, you also may contact:

Darlene Austin
Director, Diversity, Employee Relations & Corporate Social Responsibility
414.277.5228
darlene.austin@quarles.com

Mansfield Rule Certified

Designed to increase the representation of diverse lawyers in law firm leadership, Mansfield Rule certification requires firms to track their consideration of women, lawyers from underrepresented racial and ethnic groups, lawyers with disabilities and LGBTQ+ lawyers for top leadership roles, senior-level lateral hiring, equity partnership and participation in client meetings.

National and Local Organizations

Quarles is involved with many other local and national organizations that support diversity and inclusion, including the Pro Bono Name Change Project, the Alliance for Asian American Justice, the NAACP Legal Defense Fund, ACLU cases and many pro bono cases in which we provide direct representation to diverse clients.