Crain's Chicago: Dinsmore's J.T. Wilson Makes the Case for Diversity in Business
Dinsmore labor and employment partner J.T. Wilson III recently spoke with Crain's Chicago Business about the essential nature of diversity in the workplace. He said Dinsmore's diversity initiatives attracted him to the firm when he joined in late 2018. Read his full comments below.
Wilson's résumé was long and impressive before he joined Dinsmore. Wilson was highly experienced with litigating employment claims on behalf of private and public companies, and he was a lead trial counsel. He could have had his pick of Big Law firms, but he chose to accept a new position at Dinsmore because he was attracted to the firm’s diversity and inclusion policies.
These include career advancement programs, diversity committees, initiative groups and more to create and maintain a workplace filled with diverse, talented attorneys.
“There’s no perfect environment, but there are strategic steps that were implemented that prepared Dinsmore to be a leader,” Wilson says. “I lead a very diverse team, and that’s intentionally done.”
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Dinsmore continues to make strides with even more initiatives since he arrived. Last year, the firm established a scholarship to fund half the annual tuition of a student at the University of Louisville Brandeis School of Law who identifies as LGBTQ+ or who has made significant contributions to the community. Dinsmore also has three diversity-related groups, including for women, minorities and LGBTQ+ people.
The firm recently created a chief equity and inclusion position, and that employee has been instrumental in implementing initiatives to combat racism. “We are a stronger team when we’re more inclusive,” Wilson says.
Read the full article here.