“Our contributions in the pursuit of a more diverse and inclusive legal profession extend beyond who we hire and promote within the firm,” said Sandy Thomas, Reed Smith's Global Managing Partner. “Ensuring that the vendors that we work with reflect our communities is also a critical step towards fostering and accelerating change.”
One of a small handful of major law firms that collect information pertaining to the diversity of their vendors, Reed Smith is joining other major organizations across various sectors including finance, energy, pharmaceuticals, and media - among others - that have implemented a system designed to ensure that diverse suppliers are granted opportunities to work with the firm. Furthermore, in addition to providing the firm with a clearer picture of the demographics of its supplier roster, the Vendor Diversity Program will also provide the firm with critical data that clients are increasingly taking into consideration when assessing queries, RFPs, or questionnaires.
“As a firm, our combined annual spend – whether directly or on behalf of our clients - on third-party vendors and service providers is significant. When focused and strategically deployed, that spend represents market influence,” said Nick Bagiatis, Reed Smith’s Chief Operating Officer. “Given this influence, we are in a position to ensure that diverse and minority owned companies are granted opportunities to work with us based on the merit of their work. At its core, this is what our Vendor Diversity Program is all about.”
About Reed Smith
Reed Smith is a dynamic international law firm dedicated to helping clients move their businesses forward. Our belief is that by delivering smarter and more creative legal services, we will not only enrich our clients’ experiences with us, but also support them in achieving their business goals.
Our long-standing relationships, international outlook, and collaborative structure make us the go-to partner for the speedy resolution of complex disputes, transactions, and regulatory matters.
For further information, please visit reedsmith.com.
