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BB&K Among Nation’s Most Diverse Law Firms

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California Law Firm Improves to 17th Most Diverse; Makes Top 10 Percent Third Year Straight

For Immediate Release: March 31, 2010
Media Contact: Jennifer Bowles • 951.826.8480 • jennifer.bowles@BBKlaw.com

RIVERSIDE, Calif. _ Best Best & Krieger LLP continues to improve its rank among the nation’s most racially diverse law firms, with 18 percent of its attorneys from minority backgrounds, according to The American Lawyer’s annual “Diversity Scorecard” released this month.

BB&K placed 17th among the nation’s 202 largest and highest-grossing firms that responded to the magazine’s survey, jumping from the 19th spot the previous year and maintaining its rank in the top 10 percent.

BB&K is also the only law firm based solely in California to make the top 20.

BB&K’s clients are cities, counties, public agencies, water and school districts, companies and individuals throughout California.

The firm’s percentage of minority attorneys, at 18 percent, is nearly 5 percent higher than the national average of 13.4 percent, according to the survey. Of the 189 attorneys at BB&K that were noted in the 2009 survey, 15 are Hispanic-American, 12 are Asian-American and seven are African-American. 

The percentage of BB&K’s minority attorneys who are partners, at 12.3 percent, was the 13th highest overall. In addition, three partners who manage four of the eight BB&K offices across California -- Marco Martinez in Irvine; Ed Lee in Los Angeles; and Gene Tanaka for Walnut Creek and Sacramento – belong to a minority group along with George Reyes, who sits on the firm’s executive committee and works in Riverside.

“Diversity in the working environment enriches us all, from employees to lawyers to clients; when you work with people of different ethnic backgrounds, our differences complement each other so that the whole firm and the whole community becomes more than merely the sum of its parts,” Reyes said.

According to the Diversity Scorecard, 2009 was the first year that the overall proportion of minority attorneys dipped across the country – from 13.9 percent to 13.4 percent. Last year, big firms shed 6 percent of their attorneys between 2008 and 2009, and lost 9 percent of their minority lawyers, according to The American Lawyer.

Despite the economy taking its toll on the legal industry, BB&K has managed to continually improve its diversity ranking in recent years, Willis noted. The firm ranked 19th in 2009 and 2008; in 2007, BB&K ranked 27th, up from 30th  the year before.

The firm’s recruiting committee, which includes ethnically diverse attorneys, actively looks for opportunities to attract individuals from a wide range of backgrounds, Willis said.
                                   

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