As part of the firm’s intentional hiring strategy, driven by Freeman in concert with the firm’s chief talent officer, in 2021, 35% of hires came from underrepresented groups; of those 53% are women and 18% are women of color. The firm achieved Mansfield Certification Plus Status each year since the pilot, including in 2021. In addition, the firm achieved a score of 100 on the Human Rights Campaign Foundation’s 2022 Corporate Equality Index for the sixth year in a row. In addition, Freeman also plays a key role in ensuring diversity in partner promotions. The firm is proud to have its first female Black shareholder following the recent promotions cycle.

The firm also engaged clients and forged community partnerships in an effort to collaborate on critical issues. For example, during the firm’s summer associate program, each associate is paired with a firm client or a participating corporation for a two-week period, giving each of the participants additional experience and mentorship opportunities directly from corporate legal counsel.