Our Offices

Diversity



Helping clients achieve their goals is the number one priority at Waller Lansden.  Ours has historically been a culture in which diversity is an inextricable part of the fabric woven throughout the firm.  We believe that a diverse group of attorneys not only ensures that we are reflective of the clients we serve, but it leads to a higher level of service.  By recognizing and valuing the experience and points of view of a diverse group of individuals, we are able to provide more innovative solutions to the challenges faced by our clients. 

Waller Lansden’s commitment to diversity entails a long history of leadership in the recruitment and retention of women and minority attorneys.  Waller Lansden was the first majority firm in Nashville with both male and female African-American partners. 
 
In 2004 the firm formalized its commitment to diversity by establishing a committee to assist the firm's Board of Directors and ensure that our diversity goals receive the highest priority status.  The importance of the Diversity Committee is reflected by the fact that the committee is chaired by John Tishler, who also serves as chairman of the firm.  The Diversity Committee also includes Waverly Crenshaw, Lela Hollabaugh, Beth Blankenship and Jessica Gichner.

Since 2000 Waller Lansden’s attorney roster has grown by approximately 50 percent.  During the same period, the number of women and minority attorneys practicing at the firm has increased by more than 70 percent.  This growth has been accomplished by actively seeking minority candidates in our Summer Associate Program, by hiring permanent attorneys through a broad range of minority recruiting activities at the campus level and by participating each year at the Southeastern Minority Job Fair where we are able to extend our minority recruiting efforts to a broader number of law schools.  We are not satisfied, however, with the national average growth (according to the ABA) that we have accomplished through our efforts.  We continue to strive to achieve greater diversity within our firm.  For its commitment to workplace diversity, Waller Lansden was featured in the 2008 edition of the Vault/MCCA Guide to Law Firm Diversity Programs, published by Vault Career Library in cooperation with the Minority Corporate Counsel Association.

Another vital aspect of our firm's commitment to diversity is outreach to the community.  Many of our attorneys, paralegals and staff are actively involved with organizations that represent the unique interests and concerns of minorities, women, children/youth, veterans and the economically disadvantaged.  We also have developed educational programs for our clients and the community on issues such as immigration, affirmative action and the multinational workforce.

Waller Lansden provides equal benefits to domestic partners of attorneys, paralegals and staff.
 
Women’s Initiative
 
According to statistics published by U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, from 1975 to 2002, the representation of women professionals at law firms increased from 14.4 percent to more than 40 percent.  The number of women attorneys at Waller Lansden has grown similarly over the past three decades, and the Women’s Initiative was established to expand the firm’s ability to recruit and retain women attorneys.  The initiative also serves to enhance the professional development of women attorneys with a focus on building long-term careers with the firm.

Waller Lansden’s Women’s Initiative provides for peer mentoring between experienced attorneys and younger associates, conducts specialized training programs addressing issues faced by women professionals at all stages of their practice careers, organizes special networking events and teaches business development skills.

Our women attorneys also are actively involved in numerous professional and business organizations.  This involvement serves to expand their professional networks as well as to provide leadership opportunities.  Organizations in which Waller Lansden women attorneys have been active include:
 
  • Legal Association of Women
  • Lawyers’ Association for Women
  • Black Women Lawyers Association of Los Angeles
  • Women’s Section of the Birmingham Bar Association
  • National Association of African-Americans in Human Resources
  • Women’s Bar Association
  • 100 Black Women, Inc.
  • Urban Leagues of Young Professionals
  • CABLE (a professional women's networking group)
  • Nashville Women’s Political Caucus
  • Nashville Catholic Business Women’s League
 Waller Lansden also provides financial support to a wide range of organizations and events that support women and women in business:
 
  • Waller Lansden was a sponsor of the Third Annual Economic Summit for Women presented by the Tennessee Economic Council on Women and the Women’s Economic Council Foundation, Inc. in October 2006. 
  • The firm was a participant and financial supporter of the Sister-for-Sister Conference presented in March 2007 by the National Coalition of 100 Black Women, Inc., Metropolitan Nashville Chapter. 
  • Waller Lansden financially supports the Lawyers' Association of Women (LAW).  Partner Billye Sanders serves on the Board of LAW. 
  • In 2005 Waller Lansden hosted an event to recognize the 85th anniversary of women's suffrage. 
  • The firm and several individual attorneys are actively involved in the fundraising efforts of the Girl Scout Council of Cumberland Valley. 
  • Waller Lansden financially supports the Nashville ATHENA Awards.  Firm partner, D. Billye Sanders, is a past ATHENA Award nominee. 
  • Waller Lansden regularly supports the Nashville Women's Political Caucus. 
  • Waller Lansden participates in the "Men Who Believe in Women 'Good Guy' Awards," the annual award given to men who support women in measurable ways.  Two of the firm's male partners have served as co-chairs of the event. 
Awards and Recognition
 
Our attorneys, paralegals and staff members are actively involved in a wide range of organizations in Nashville, Los Angeles and Birmingham that focus on issues of diversity and economic opportunity within the legal profession and the community.  Recognition received by the firm for these efforts includes:
 
  • President’s Award, presented by The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People – Nashville Branch, for promoting diversity and opportunity throughout Nashville.  Waller Lansden received the award at the NAACP's dinner celebrating the 50th anniversary of Brown v. Board of Education. 
  • Employer Recognition Award, presented by the Nashville Bar Association, for leadership in diversity hiring. 
  • Leadership Award, presented by the National Association of African Americans in Human Resources, for diversity successes. 
Cultural Diversity and Economic Opportunity
 
Waller Lansden extends financial support to a wide range of organizations whose missions focus on diversity and the development of economic opportunity within minority communities.  A partial listing of recent events and programs for which the firm provides assistance includes:
 
  • Waller Lansden is a Gold Sponsor of the Urban League of Middle Tennessee (ULMT), the only law firm in Middle Tennessee so invested.  Waller Lansden partner Mark Peters actively serves on the ULMT board of directors, and associate Monica Johnson is secretary of the Urban League Young Professionals of Middle Tennessee. 
  • The firm annually sponsors the 100 Black Men of Middle Tennessee, an organization of business professionals and community leaders committed to providing positive role models for African American youth.  Waverly D. Crenshaw, Jr., chair of the firm's labor and employment practice, serves on the 100 Black Men board and is the organization's general counsel. 
  • Waller Lansden maintains a board seat and is a member of the Chairman's Roundtable of the Japan-America Society of Tennessee. 
  • Waller Lansden financially supports the NAACP's Annual Freedom Fund Banquet. 
  • Since 1997, Waller Lansden has provided annual financial support to the Nashville Minority Business Center, which extends financing and assistance to minority-owned businesses. 
  • Partner Waverly Crenshaw and Beverly Hedrick, Director of Business Development, have been presenters at the Minority Corporate Counsel Association's annual conferences.
  • In 2005 the firm sponsored a statewide business summit for Hispanic, women and minority business owners in conjunction with the Tennessee Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, the Governor's Office of Diversity Business Enterprise and the U.S. Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. 
  • Waller Lansden hosted the inaugural Middle Tennessee Diversity Forum in 2005. 
  • Waller Lansden sponsors the Nashville Symphony Orchestra's "Let Freedom Sing" Concert to honor Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.  The firm has sponsored this annual event since 2001.
  • For many years, Waller Lansden has sponsored the Nashville Chapter of the National Conference for Community and Justice, (formerly known as the National Conference of Christians and Jews).  Partner, Frank Grace, serves on NCCJ's national advisory board.  
For additional information on diversity at Waller Lansden, contact Beverly Hedrick, Director of Business Development, at Beverly.Hedrick@wallerlaw.com.