When it comes to encouraging law firms to be more diverse, corporate clients are a powerful force. Some client businesses, especially investment banks and hedge funds, have made significant advances, leaving many law firms to catch up, said Julia Lu, a partner in the New York City office of Richards Kibbe & Orbe.
“From a business perspective, it doesn’t work very well when you have two white male partners go pitch for clients’ business when the clients have Asians, women and other minority groups sitting there,” said Lu, a leader in RK&O’s diversity efforts.
