Berry Appleman & Leiden: The #1 Most Diverse Law Firm in America Once Again

DALLAS (May 25, 2021) – Once again, Berry Appleman & Leiden LLP (BAL) has earned the title of the #1 most diverse law firm in the United States. For the second year in a row, the trailblazing immigration firm landed the #1 spot on The American Lawyer’s 2021 Diversity Scorecard, the industry’s preeminent ranking of racial diversity in the legal field. BAL ranked #1 out of 220 firms nationwide.

“We are pleased to continue to lead the industry on this critical issue at such a pivotal time,” said Jeremy Fudge, the firm’s Managing Partner. “At BAL, we have always understood that our strength as an organization comes from our diversity. We empower every individual to contribute their unique perspectives to the conversation and to our shared mission to make a positive difference.”

While most law firms continue to lag behind on racial diversity, BAL topped the Diversity Score at 74.7 – the second-place firm was 5.6 points lower. The Diversity Score is calculated by adding the percentage of minority attorneys and percentage of minority partners. Half of BAL’s 175 attorneys (49.7%) and one in four BAL Partners (25%) are racial minorities. Additionally, BAL scored #1 for having the highest percentage of minority equity partners (28.6%) and for having the highest percentage of Asian-American attorneys (26.9%). BAL is also among the top five law firms in the country for the highest percentage of Latinx attorneys (16%).

“We are a truly vibrant and multicultural workplace, and we have been intentional about putting in place a host of programs to ensure that we remain diverse and inclusive,” said Rob Caballero, a Partner who oversees the firm’s Austin, Houston and New York offices. “We continue to learn from each other and celebrate the diversity of our communities to best serve our clients, who are from all corners of the world.”

Last year, the firm launched dozens of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion initiatives that have helped facilitate cross-cultural connections and open discussions about topics such as Black Lives Matter and the rise in hate crimes against the AAPI community. The Diversity Scorecard also ranks BAL among the top 10 firms in the country with the most minority partners. The Diversity Scorecard is based on the average number of full-time minority attorneys—Asian-American, Black, Latinx or Hispanic, Native American and self-described multiracial attorneys—at AmLaw 200 and National Law Journal 250 law firms.

“As a multiracial attorney who has seen the firm’s diversity flourish through the years, I’m so proud that BAL’s outstanding diversity and inclusion efforts are being recognized nationally, and that we are leading the way for other law firms,” said Petra Tang, a Partner in the firm’s San Francisco office.