Fox Rothschild has named its first-ever chief diversity and inclusion officer, appointing a North Carolina-based intellectual property litigator, Kimberly Bullock Gatling, to fill the role.

The move comes at a time when discussions about race in the wake of George Floyd’s death are dominating the national conversation—and forcing law firms and their clients to refocus their attention on questions of diversity. Fox Rothschild acknowledged the timing in its announcement Wednesday, stating that “the call for change is clear” and calling “black lives matter” a statement that is “independent of politics and debate.”