In today’s competitive marketplace, law firms must be more creative and collaborative than ever before. Teamwork and innovation are essential to finding, or creating, the best solutions to complex problems for clients and to the delivery of superior legal service.
Creativity, innovation and teamwork unfold with the most impact when people of different races, genders, ethnicity, sexual orientations, religions and backgrounds are able to work and brainstorm together.
At Ulmer & Berne, we are proud of our Diversity and Inclusion Committee – co-chaired by partners Inajo Davis Chappell and Timothy J. Downing – because it works tirelessly to ensure that the values of inclusion and diversity are not just platitudes, but are actually permeating all facets of life at the firm.
We believe that fostering and embracing a diverse and inclusive workforce truly enriches the work environment for everyone. Equally important, it’s the catalyst for the kind of creative solutions we strive to deliver to each of our clients, at each and every opportunity. We therefore stand committed to recruiting and promoting people of diverse backgrounds who seek careers at our firm.
Sincerely,
Kip Reader
Managing Partner
Our diversity efforts include active participation in the following programs and organizations:
African American Philanthropy Summit
Ulmer & Berne proudly supports the African American Philanthropy Summit. The African American Philanthropy Committee supports the mission of the Cleveland Foundation by promoting awareness and education to African Americans about the benefits of wealth and community preservation through philanthropy.
Asian Festival
Ulmer & Berne proudly supports the Asian Festival in Columbus, Ohio. With more than 100,000 visitors each year, the Asian Festival promotes and preserves the rich Asian culture and seeks to build relationships and connections within our communities.
Asian Pacific American Law Students Association
Ulmer & Berne sponsored the 2010 Midwest APALSA Conference hosted by Case Western Reserve University School of Law and Case Western Reserve APALSA. The Conference helped to bring law students and members of the legal profession together for a day of in-depth reflection and discussion of issues impacting Asian Pacific Americans in the law.
Black Lawyers Association
Ulmer & Berne proudly supports the Black Lawyers Association, an organization of attorneys, judges, law firms and law students whose mission is to further diversify the legal community of Cincinnati.
Celebrating Black History Month
Ulmer & Berne proudly supports 2010 Black History month programming on WCPN/NPR, WVIZ/PBS ideastream® and Western Reserve PBS as it reflects the Firm's commitment to encouraging a more diverse work environment.
Cleveland State University Black Law Student Association
Ulmer & Berne supports the Black Law Students’ Association and the Annual Scholarship and Awards Banquet held each year to recognize graduating law students and raise scholarship funds for continuing law students.
Diversity Center of Northeast Ohio
The Diversity Center’s mission is one that is greatly valued and supported at Ulmer & Berne. The Diversity Center of Northeast Ohio empowers individuals to build on the strength of diversity and create communities where all people are connected, respected and valued.
Greater Cincinnati Chinese Chamber of Commerce
Ulmer & Berne supports the Greater Cincinnati Chinese Chamber of Commerce and its various events and programs throughout the year, including the China US Business Forum and the Lunar New Year Gala. The GCCCC’s mission is to bridge the business communities of Greater China and Greater Cincinnati through education, promotion of business opportunities and facilitation of business dialogue.
Greater Cincinnati Minority Counsel Program Member
An organization of business members that encourages the hiring of minority attorneys to do corporate legal work.
Human Rights Campaign
The Firm proudly supports the Expressions of Equality Human Rights Campaign Gala each year. The Human Rights Campaign mission is to provide a place where lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people are ensured of their basic equal rights and can be open, honest and safe at home, at work and in their community.
Law Firm Matchmaker Event
The annual Law Firm Matchmaker Event is coordinated by the Cleveland Bar Association and the Cleveland Chapter of the Association of Legal Administrators with the assistance of the Northern Ohio Minority Business Council.
Midwest Region Minority Recruitment Conference
Coordinated by the Black Law Students Association including students and schools from across the Midwest.
Minority Clerkship Program
Coordinated by the Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Association, the MCP is a competitive program placing 1L law students in firms, companies and the public sector. Partner Inajo Davis Chappell is the chair of the Minority Clerkship Committee.
The Cleveland Foundation
The Firm is dedicated to supporting the African-American Philanthropy Committee of the Cleveland Foundation. The Committee and Foundation host special events including Advancing African-American Philosophy, designed to educate, encourage and inspire philanthropists in our African-American community.
The Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Association's Diversity Networking Conference
Each year the Firm helps to sponsor the Diversity Networking Conference presented by the Diversity Action Committee and Women in Law Section of The Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Association. This Conference is an educational opportunity to learn about diversity-related issues in the legal profession.
Tri-State Diversity Recruiting Program
A two-day recruiting event for minority law students from Indiana, Kentucky and Ohio.
United Black Fund of Greater Cleveland
The Firm is proud to support the United Black Fund of Greater Cleveland and its mission of providing funding and services to other nonprofit organizations in the African-American and other under-served populations in our community.
YWCA of Greater Cleveland
Every year, Ulmer & Berne participates in the YWCA of Greater Cleveland’s Women of Achievement Award Luncheon. Ulmer & Berne is committed to attracting and retaining women within the legal profession.
Our Commitment to Women
In 2006, Ulmer & Berne created a Women's Professional Development Committee with a main goal of creating an environment that nurtured the development of programs and policies geared towards the recruitment, retention and advancement of its women attorneys. One outcome of this committee was the creation of UB WILL – Women In Law and Leadership.
Ulmer & Berne strongly believes that the women attorneys of the firm bring a broad range of experience, talent and skills to our firm and our clients. The mission of UB WILL is to promote the successes and achievements of both our women attorneys and our clients. This is accomplished in two ways:
Internally, our goal is the retention and promotion of our accomplished women lawyers; the successful development of business by our women lawyers; and the advancement of women to partnership and management roles within the firm through education, training, mentoring, marketing and networking.
Externally, our goal is to work with our clients to better service their business needs and gain success; to raise the professional profiles of our women attorneys; and to assist our women lawyers to lead and serve in our communities in such a way that betters the lives of others.
Our efforts include active participation in the following programs and organizations:
Dress for Success
The mission of Dress for Success is to promote the economic independence of disadvantaged women by providing professional attire, a network of support and career development tools. Ulmer & Berne is proud to support such a great organization.
Junior League
Ulmer & Berne proudly supports The Junior League of Cleveland and its mission as an organization of women committed to promoting voluntarism, developing the potential of women and improving our community through the effective action and leadership of trained volunteers.