Bloomberg Law interviewed Jack L. White, managing partner of McGuireWoods’ Tysons, Virginia, office, for a Nov. 17, 2023, story on how law firms have created practice groups focused on diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI). The groups were created because of client queries about racial equity audits and whether diversity programs would withstand potential legal scrutiny after the U.S. Supreme Court’s June 2023 decision banning affirmative action in college admissions.
In September 2023, McGuireWoods established its DEI practice. White, who co-leads the group, told Bloomberg Law that the firm’s practice is “a formal declaration, and it’s also a consolidation of our efforts in a more targeted way.”
According to Bloomberg Law, after the killing of George Floyd by police in May 2020, clients wanted law firms to help design their DEI programs and ensure they follow best practices. Now, in the aftermath of the high court’s decision, clients want assistance protecting those programs from potential legal challenges.