Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Accessibility

Golan Christie Taglia is committed to advancing diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility – within the firm and throughout our communities – to build a more diverse and inclusive legal profession.

We believe employing individuals with varying perspectives and diversity of thought and experience enables us to understand client needs and objectives. This is vital to our ability to provide the best possible legal advice and counsel.

A diverse workforce is essential to our success.

COMMITMENT TO DIVERSITY

A commitment to diversity and inclusion is embraced throughout the firm. To further support and enhance this mission, GCT has formed a Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Accessibility Committee, led by Co-chairs Brianna Golan and Toni Esparza.

This initiative gives structure and a voice to advance diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility goals, invests in team members and develops programs to further strategic priorities.

GCT’s Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Accessibility Committee meets regularly to discuss diversity, inherent and unconscious bias, the importance of language in the workplace and to create proactive measures the firm can take to remain dedicated to its commitment to diversity.

The Committee has also initiated firmwide training programs on topics including diversity education, transgender and gender non-conforming awareness and acceptance, civility training, cultural competency training and creating an inclusive workplace. Recent initiatives include:

• Continuing the committee’s discussion of diversity and its impact on society by examining the PBS documentary “Asian Americans”
• Being a proud ally of the LGBTQ+ community, valuing education and protecting equal rights for all by celebrating and recognizing Pride Month as a catalyst for education on the injustice the LGBTQ+ community has faced
• Celebrating the accomplishments of the firm’s women attorneys in building a workplace where women are encouraged and supported in their drive to thrive, renewing our commitment to advancing diversity and inclusion within the firm and throughout the legal community
• Closing the firm on Juneteenth, June 19, to encourage firm members to participate in charitable work in their communities in spirit of the day
• Exploring Maus during Passover and Yom Ha’Shoa (Holocaust Remembrance Day) for its themes on race and ethnicity, propaganda, oppression, internment and freedom in the time of Nazi occupation in Europe to discern more about the importance of remaining allies with marginalized people and working toward a more inclusive future
• Spearheading and hosting a benefit fundraiser for World Central Kitchen, which provides relief efforts for Ukraine following the Russian invasion

PROMOTING EQUITY IN HIRING AND PROMOTION PRACTICES

Fully embracing diversity allows us to draw from varied perspectives and communities and to attract the very best talent to our ranks, thereby providing excellent service to clients.

We provide the highest level of client service, in part, by putting together teams who bring a creative approach to solving problems.

Diversity comes in many forms. GCT is committed to recruiting, hiring and promoting employees with diverse racial, ethnic, cultural, religious, physical ability and sexual orientation identities that allows us to create an environment where opportunities to succeed are available to all.

While disparities in gender equity among lawyers and firm management continue to plague many law firms, GCT is proud of the impact our women attorneys have made to the firm and legal industry at large. In addition, more than half of our attorneys are women and 50% of our equity partners are women.

ENGAGING WITH THE COMMUNITIES WE SERVE

Being committed to diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility extends beyond the walls of our firm’s office. Our attorneys regularly serve on a wide range of charitable organization boards and volunteer their time and resources to many worthy groups and causes devoted to furthering missions around the advancement of a diverse global society.

Partner Barbara Yong is a Founder of Equal Pay Day Chicago, an organization dedicated to achieving pay equity for women.

Along with Margaret (Peggy) Gisch, GCT sponsored a concert benefitting FORA: Forging Opportunities for Refugees in America, a Chicago-based nonprofit providing intensive after-school educational interventions for formerly pre-literate refugee children who are years behind in school.