Three Rivers Business Alliance (3RBA) is proud to announce Porter Wright Morris & Arthur LLP has joined the National LGBT Chamber of Commerce (NGLCC) as a corporate partner to support LGBTQ+ businesses across the country. Through this new partnership, the firm will expand its existing supplier diversity program to include certified LGBT Business Enterprises® (LGBTBEs®), creating parity for LGBT-owned businesses, which contribute an estimated $1.7 trillion to the U.S. economy..
Porter Wright is a large law firm that traces its roots to 1846 in Ohio. With offices in Columbus, Cincinnati, Cleveland and Dayton, Ohio, Washington, D.C., Naples, Florida, Chicago, Illinois, and Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Porter Wright provides strategic legal counsel to a worldwide base of clients.
“We are excited to have Porter Wright join us as an NGLCC National Legal Partner, serving as a role model for other law firms and a leader among our corporate partners seeking to expand LGBT-inclusive opportunities throughout the legal industry,” said NGLCC Co-Founder & President Justin Nelson. “Within an industry that has maintained a strong commitment to inclusion, partnering with the NGLCC is a logical step for many law firms that seek to advance their diversity values while also attracting and maintaining Fortune 1000 clients by mirroring their inclusion practices, including supplier diversity.”
This is the latest step that Porter Wright has taken toward their commitment to diversity and inclusion. The firm recently joined the third cycle of the national Mansfield Rule pilot program, which is focused on increasing the number of women, lawyers of color, lawyers with disabilities and LGBTQ+ lawyers in significant leadership positions and promotions.
“We see diversity as the responsibility of our entire firm,” said Robert Tannous, managing partner of Porter Wright. “With our involvement in the NGLCC, the Mansfield program, and other efforts, we are embodying our serious commitment to being strong allies to our partners and staff, our clients, and our communities.”
The partnership with the NGLCC is driven by attorney Ronald L. Hicks, Jr., a partner in Porter Wright’s Pittsburgh office and longtime NGLCC member. Hicks serves on NGLCC’s National Legal Industry Council and is a member of the NGLCC Supplier Certification Committee. Hicks also serves as director and president of Three Rivers Business Alliance (3RBA), an NGLCC affiliate chamber in Pittsburgh that supports LGBTQ businesses in Southwestern Pennsylvania, Southeastern Ohio, Northern West Virginia and Northwestern Maryland. Together with its foundation, 3RBA promotes networking and business development for LGBTQ business owners and assists the NGLCC with its LGBTBE® certification program.
Porter Wright encourages its clients and other law firms to support the NGLCC and 3RBA as they work to expand economic opportunities and advancement for LGBTQ people. To learn more about or join the NGLCC and 3RBA, please visit their web sites (www.nglcc.org and www.3rba.com) or contact Ron Hicks at rhicks@porterwright.com. To learn more about Porter Wright, visit www.porterwright.com.