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Diversity

Our Culture and Commitment

HRO is built on a long-standing culture of excellence. This standard of excellence applies to everything we do. As such, we are deeply committed to a culture of Inclusive Excellence which moves diversity beyond mere numbers and integrates principles of inclusion into all aspects of our business, from recruitment, development, retention and promotion of exemplary lawyers, to strategic planning, governance and organizational development.

Inclusive Excellence and a diverse workforce enhance our ability to understand and serve our clients and to comprehend and value differences, both strengthening our legal practice and enriching us as individuals.

Diversity

HRO is a leader in the legal and business community toward raising awareness of the importance of excellence in diversity.

  • Colorado Pledge to Diversity: HRO is one of the original signatories to the Colorado Pledge to Diversity, first signed in 1993 and re-vamped in 2000. The Pledge is a commitment by Denver’s largest law firms to take steps to achieve clear, realistic, and attainable goals to enhance racial and ethnic diversity in Colorado law firms.
     
  • Center for Legal Inclusiveness: HRO, along with representatives of several other law firms, has teamed with the University of Colorado Law School and the University of Denver Sturm College of Law to form the Center for Legal Inclusiveness (formerly known as the Colorado Campaign For Inclusive Excellence). The Center for Legal Inclusiveness is committed to the transformation of the legal profession with the following goal: by the year 2016, all Denver metro law firms and corporate legal departments will have successfully developed and implemented initiatives that create cultures of inclusion where attorneys of all backgrounds succeed without regard to gender, race, religion, national origin, disability, or sexual orientation. See www.centerforlegalinclusiveness.org for more information.
     
  • California Minority Counsel Program: HRO is a corporate member of the California Minority Counsel Program (CMCP). The CMCP introduces minority attorneys practicing in California to prospective clients. In addition, the CMCP provides a forum for in-house counsel to network with other in-house counsel, attend continuing legal education and other professional programs and meet outside counsel from a variety of practice areas. The CMCP counts among its members numerous prominent national and international corporations, including Clorox, Del Monte, Visa, Wells Fargo, Union Bank, The Gap, and others.

Work/Life

Our culture of excellence applies also to work/life roles. HRO provides a family-friendly working environment where commitments to both family and clients are valued and honored. The firm is proud of its progressive approach to reduced-hour arrangements, leave policies and child care.

Training & Development

HRO has a robust training and development program for its attorneys relating to diversity issues. Below is a representative list of recent programs.

Women in Marketing program, co-hosted with Wells Fargo
Exploring Generational Diversity, from Rolodex to Facebook, co-hosted with the CCIE
 

Minority & Women: Leadership, Scholarship & Initiatives

Leadership

Our minority and women attorneys and management are leaders, not only in their field of practice, but also in civic and volunteer organizations. HRO is pleased to support them in these roles. Some of our most accomplished colleagues are listed below. 

Scholarship

  • Minority Clerkship Program: HRO has participated in the first-year Minority Clerkship Program sponsored by the Pledge Group since its inaugural year (2001).
     
  • James E. Bye Scholarship: In 2005, HRO initiated the James E. Bye Scholarship program. This scholarship is available to first-year law students at each of the Colorado law schools to assist diverse law students with their studies. Learn more about the James E. Bye Diversity Scholarship.

Initiatives

Our minority and women partners and counsel are deeply engaged in programs and initiatives to support diversity in their profession. Among these are:

  • Asian Pacific American Bar Association-Denver (APABA): APABA-Denver advocates for the legal needs and interests of the APA community and represents, with national networks through the NAPABA, the interests of over 40,000 attorneys.
     
  • Colorado Hispanic Bar Association: The CHBA's primary function is to serve the public interest by cultivating the science of jurisprudence, promoting reform in the law, facilitating the administration of justice, advancing the standing of its members in the legal profession and promoting the cooperation and development of Hispanic attorneys.
     
  • Colorado Women’s Bar Association (CWBA): The CWBA is instrumental in documenting the bias that still exists against women attorneys. The CWBA is also dedicated to improving the status of minority women within the profession. The CWBA also promotes the selection of women attorneys to State and federal judgeships and judicial nominating commissions.
     
  • Colorado Women’s Chamber of Commerce: Premier organization that provides opportunities and visibility for women in business through relationship development, education, mentorship, partnership and alliances.
     
  • Denver Hispanic Chamber of Commerce: The Denver Hispanic Chamber of Commerce (DHCC) supports the development and growth of member businesses through initiatives that encourage and promote business and economic development. In addition, the DHCC is a strong advocate of legislation affecting small businesses. The Chamber also provides access to valuable information, business leaders, procurement opportunities, and education and training.
     
  • Latin American Educational Foundation: The Latin American Educational Foundation advances the educational leadership and economic status of all Hispanics to improve the greater community.
     
  • Women in Mergers & Acquisitions: HRO attorney Elizabeth Meier founded and leads one of the most active women’s professional networking groups in the Metro Denver region.
     
  • Women’s Vision Foundation: Nonprofit organization devoted to information, education and support for leading corporate women.
     
  • Some Leaders Are Born Women: HRO recently highlighted several of its women leaders in the Denver Business Journal and other publications. Click here to view the profile.
     

Minority and Women-Owned Business Enterprises (MWBE) Policy

Holme Roberts & Owen encourages, promotes and provides opportunities for Minority and Women-Owned Business Enterprises (MWBE) to bid for work, services or supplies at HRO. We encourage our contractors to do likewise with any subcontractors they employ in projects for HRO. The Firm focuses on minority and women-owned enterprises as a value added strategy that creates competitive advantage and best serves our clients' needs.

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