B&D ranked in the top three in The National Law Journal’s (NLJ) 2024 LGBTQ+ Scorecard, with nearly 10 percent of our lawyers self-identifying as members of the LGBTQ+ community. The scorecard names 223 U.S.-based firms that have reported the number of self-identified LGBTQ+ associates, partners, and attorneys of other ranks at their firms.

Anthony Papetti, Co-Chair of B&D’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DE&I) Committee, told NLJ, “I’ve been with B&D since 2014 when I was a summer associate… Coming into the firm as a summer associate and then as a newly minted attorney, it was important to me to see open members of the LGBTQ+ community in leadership positions at the firm, and there were such people in those positions. That kind of representation signaled to me that this firm, not only respected LGBTQ+ attorneys, but it also provided an environment in which they could thrive and lead.”

NLJ highlighted B&D’s pro bono practice, noting the firm’s “pro bono cases involving LGBTQ+ issues, including advising gay and transgender immigrants fleeing persecution in their home countries and seeking asylum in the United States.” Firm Chair Kathy Szmuszkovicz said. She also noted that the firm’s pro bono work is “emblematic of our commitment to inclusion and the rights of LGBTQ+ individuals.”

DE&I are core values and business imperatives at B&D. The firm holds Mansfield Rule 6.0 Plus certification, indicating that our firm considers women, LGBTQ+, minorities, and lawyers with disabilities for at least 30% of all significant leadership roles, lateral recruiting, and business development opportunities. The “Plus” status signifies that B&D took steps to increase inclusivity in firm leadership and has made measured progress in doing so. In 2023, the Leadership Council on Legal Diversity recognized B&D as a Compass Award winner. In 2022 and 2023, MCCA awarded B&D its George B. Vashon Innovator Award recipient, given to a law firm with fewer than 500 attorneys that “led the way with innovative best practices to assist diverse attorneys.”