For the second consecutive year, Kramer Levin Naftalis & Frankel LLP earned a perfect score on the Human Rights Campaign’s (HRC) annual “Corporate Equality Index.” The HRC, which is the nation’s largest gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender (GLBT) rights organization, uses the Corporate Equality Index as a tool to rate American businesses on how they treat GLBT employees, consumers and investors.
“We are honored to be recognized with a perfect score on the HRC’s Corporate Equality Index for the second year in a row,” said Paul S. Pearlman, Kramer Levin’s managing partner. “The top rating is a testament to the firm’s commitment to GLBT equality and a reflection of our initiatives that support this commitment, both in terms of community involvement and employee benefits.”
In addition to providing generous benefits to its employees without regard to sexual orientation or gender identity, Kramer Levin has played a leading role in pro bono GLBT rights litigation for over a decade. The firm presently is litigating several cases involving respect in New York for marriages of same-sex couples entered into in other jurisdictions, and served as co-counsel with Lambda Legal in Hernandez v. Robles, which sought equal marriage rights for same-sex couples under New York law. Kramer Levin also submitted amicus briefs in Boy Scouts v. Dale and Lawrence v. Texas, two landmark GLBT cases before the United States Supreme Court; litigated the case that established second parent adoption rights under Delaware law; and obtained asylum for GLBT people fleeing persecution in their homelands and seeking refuge in the United States.
“I am proud to be part of a firm that is committed to attracting and retaining talented GLBT lawyers and, through its pro bono efforts, advancing the cause of equality,” said Norman C. Simon, a litigation partner and member of the firm’s diversity committee.
Kramer Levin has received consistently high marks from legal ranking guides and leading diversity publications. Most recently, the 2008 Vault survey of law firm associates ranked Kramer Levin 13th in the nation in diversity as it relates to gays and lesbians. The firm also was selected by Multicultural Law Magazine for the past three years as one of the Top 100 Law Firms for Diversity.
The 2009 HRC Corporate Equality Index ratings were based on several questions that assess whether companies have a written non-discrimination policy covering sexual orientation; support transgender employees with written non-discrimination policies and benefits; offer inclusive health insurance, bereavement and family leave policies to employees with same-sex partners; offer diversity training; have GLBT employee groups; engage in appropriate and respectful advertising to the GLBT community; contribute to GLBT community organizations; and decline to engage in any activities that would undermine the goal of equal rights for GLBT people.