2015 Diversity Leader
Fish & Richardson
Headquarters: Boston, Massachusetts
Managing Partner: Peter Devlin
Employees: 928
Recent Recognition Includes:
- American Lawyer Diversity Scorecard, Top Law Firm for Diversity, 2013 and 2014
- Human Rights Campaign (HRC) Corporate Equality Index, Top Rating of 100 percent, 2014
- com, Inc., Best Law Firms for Diversity: Top 25 List for Disability Diversity, 2013 and 2014
- Minority Corporate Counsel Association, “Do Good, Do Well” List, 2013
Ahmed Davis
In intellectual property law, serving the most innovative companies requires diverse talent with different viewpoints, says Ahmed Davis, Principal and National Chair of Diversity Initiative
“At Fish, our diversity and inclusion imperative is two-fold. As the largest IP law firm in the country, we must first provide legal services to our clients that are of the highest quality. To do so, we must recognize that our clients are themselves extraordinarily diverse organizations, comprising people from very different backgrounds, who are often located in foreign countries. To serve our clients in the best way that we possibly can means we must be attuned to diversity issues. Simply put, diversity in the legal profession is not merely the right thing to do, it makes good business sense
“There is also an important internal rationale. At Fish, we are a diverse group, where every single person—principals, associates, staff—brings unique experiences, capabilities, and talents to the team. We recognize that these diverse backgrounds provide unique perspectives that can lead to new and better solutions.
“The greatest opportunity for synergy comes from creating and supporting diverse teams that allow us to draw upon our collective experiences and wisdom. Our greatest challenge is making sure we promote a creative, respectful, and inclusive culture, so we can draw out and benefit from those diverse viewpoints. Toward that end, Fish is involved in a broad range of efforts to further the diversity of our firm and the legal community. For example, our Diversity Initiative links together a variety of programs and offerings related to recruitment, professional development, retention, and outreach in the legal and business communities. We also support many organizations devoted to issues of diversity, and support our professionals in these activities.”
