McGuireWoods chairman Jonathan P. Harmon was quoted in two August articles about the actions law firms are taking to combat racial inequity in the three months since George Floyd’s killing.
Bloomberg quoted Harmon in an Aug. 24, 2020, story titled “Black Firm Leaders Drive Big Law Social Justice Efforts.” The article addressed how large national firms led by Black chairs, managing partners or presidents are supporting social justice and anti-racism programs.
To raise awareness and to provide a platform for addressing inequity, McGuireWoods started an “African American Leaders in the Law” webcast in July. The firm also has established a task force focused on racial equity and criminal justice issues in Black communities.
“I convened this task force with a lot of our young lawyers, who had been protesting,” Harmon said. “We focused on three cities — Charlotte, Raleigh and Richmond, Va. — so we could be at the table. We see that this is going to be a long-term process. We’re in it for the long haul.”
The American Lawyer’s Aug. 21, 2020, article titled “ ‘We Want a Movement, Not a Moment’: Despite Skepticism, Law Firms Haven’t Relented on Racial Justice” discussed actions taken by firms across the country in the push for real progress.
“[W]e have the people and connections to where we can get to the mayor, chief of police and state legislature,” Harmon said referring to McGuireWoods and McGuireWoods Consulting’s advocacy for police and criminal justice reform in Richmond, Raleigh and Charlotte, three cities where the firm has offices.