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WEGALA Mission Statement
WEGALA, the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Affinity Group of Weil, Gotshal & Manges, was established with the primary purpose of enhancing the recruitment and retention of LGBT attorneys and fostering a better understanding among all of the Firm’s attorneys and staff of the unique issues facing the LGBT community. Members of WEGALA have organized and developed an agenda designed to enhance the personal and professional development of each WEGALA member and to support the overall interests of the Firm. WEGALA offers a forum for its members to network among other LGBT attorneys among and within the Firm’s offices, encourages its members to participate in recruiting activities geared towards LGBT law students, promotes client and philanthropic outreach programs and provides a platform to raise concerns common to WEGALA members to the management of the Firm. Members of WEGALA actively serve as leaders in both the LGBT and legal communities.
Relevant Policies
Weil Gotshal’s Workplace Environment and Diversity policy prohibits discrimination or harassment along a number of dimensions, including sexual orientation and gender identity and expression.
The Firm offers many benefits to same-sex and opposite-sex domestic partners, including medical/health insurance, dental insurance, bereavement leave, an employee assistance program, and relocation/travel assistance.
Event Highlights
- Host of the ninth annual ACLU Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender and AIDS Project’s Summer Attorney Reception for New York Attorneys and Summer Associates.
- Co-sponsor, along with Women@Weil, of a breakfast with Christine Quinn, the first woman and openly gay person to be elected Speaker of the New York City Council.
- In conjunction with Weil Gotshal’s firm-wide diversity week, host of a panel discussion on “Being Out in the Workplace,” which included the general counsel of prestigious media, investment and biotechnical companies.
- Led a team of walkers in the 2007 AIDS Walk New York that raised over $20,000 to support the services provided by Gay Men’s Health Crisis and other AIDS Service Organizations. WEGALA’s efforts set the standard by outraising every other law firm that partook in the AIDS Walk.
- Host of numerous social and networking events, including a reception for LGBT first-year law students at the Flatiron Lounge, a Weil Gotshal LGBT attorney-staff bar night at Vlada, an East Hampton pool party and dinner hosted by an openly gay Weil Gotshal partner, and a tour of New York City Center in Manhattan followed by a performance of Gypsy starring Patty LuPone. Weil Gotshal also participates in regular mixers with openly gay professionals from Wachovia, UBS, Lehman Brothers, Goldman Sachs, Merrill Lynch and JPMorgan.
Sponsorships
Weil Gotshal is a substantial contributor and sponsor of many LGBT-related charities and benevolent organizations. WEGALA regularly attends and actively participates in numerous national and local fundraisers. Some recent events have included AIDS Walk New York, the ACLU Lesbian Gay Transgender Bisexual and AIDS Project’s Summer Attorney Reception, the GLAAD Media Awards, the GLSEN Respect Awards, the IGLHRC Celebration of Courage Event, the LAMBDA Legal Liberty Awards, the LeGaL Foundation Dinner, the Massachusetts Lesbian and Gay Bar Association Dinner, and the Callen-Lorde Community Health Awards.
Contacts
Daniel Dokos
New York, Partner, Corporate
212 310 8576
Danielle Do
New York, Partner, Corporate
212 310 8698