WeilLatinx
WeilLatinx aims to actively recruit and retain attorneys from all Hispanic backgrounds, as well as to provide our firm with a better understanding of the unique contributions attorneys of Latino/Hispanic origin can make to the Firm’s overall success.
Our People
- Of the Firm’s Latino attorneys there are 9 partners, 1 counsel, and 29 associates. Three Firm Leaders are WeilLatinx members; two practice groups and two offices are led by WeilLatinx members.
- Management Committee Sponsors demonstrate the level of our leadership commitment. These appointed senior leaders serve as a sponsor to an affinity group for which they are not already a member. They are charged with understanding key issues the group members face and advocating for necessary change. Frederick Green, a partner in the Corporate Department, is the Management Committee Sponsor for WeilLatinx.
Conferences
Racial Justice
Weil started the formal Racial Justice series in 2020 to highlight the racial inequities present in the United States and to increase dialogue. As part of the series, Weil invited speakers from non-profit organizations to take part in fireside chats and discuss their missions.
The Racial Justice Series included:
- Weil sponsored the LatinoJustice Lideres Young Professionals Board Fall Networking reception in support of their Legal Pipeline Programs, in addition to sponsoring their annual dinner.
- In honor of Juneteenth 2020, Weil hosted a fireside chat with Clint Odom, SVP at the National Urban League, who discussed the history of police brutality in the United States and the reform efforts of the League.
- As part of Asian Pacific Islander American Heritage Month 2020, Weil hosted Jerry Vattamala, Director of the Democracy Program at the Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund. Jerry touched on topics such as the rise in anti-Asian sentiment as a result of COVID-19 and how redistricting can affect communities of color.
- In June 2020, Weil partnered with LatinoJustice, a non-profit organized working to create a more equitable society through education and advocacy. LatinoJustice held two events, with the first focusing on the effect of the citizen question litigation on the 2020 Census and the second discussing the importance of voting and the effects of the pandemic on voting.
- Weil hosted two partners from McKinsey, Shelley Stewart & Jason Wright, to discuss the disparate impact of COVID-19 on the Black community. Shelley and Jason will also discuss the historical racial inequities present in the United States healthcare system.
- Weil invited Samuel Spital, Director of Litigation at the NAACP Legal Defense Fund to discuss the current policing crisis and how to achieve racial justice through legal and policy solutions.
Historically, Weil has placed great emphasis on racial justice. In response to the increase in shootings of unarmed men of color in 2016, the Firm joined the National Urban League’s Urban Solutions Council as one of its first law firm members. Weil continues to partner with the NUL’s Policy Bureau and other member companies in the Council to help create socioeconomic opportunities for men of color in the United States through policy and advocacy efforts.
WeilLatinx
Weil holds individual affinity group conferences to bring together members from across the Firm for professional development and pipeline efforts.
In September 2019, Weil’s Latinx attorneys from across the United States convened in New York for strategic planning and career development sessions, including a fireside chat with Weil alumni from Columbia University and NBCUniversal. In the evening, Weil hosted the 2019 Annual Hispanic National Bar Association Convention’s kick off reception where partner Ed Soto delivered welcome remarks.
Multicultural Attorney Conference
The January 2017 Multicultural Attorney Conference brought together Asian, Black, and Latino attorneys from across the U.S. and London offices for career development, networking, and strategic planning. Conference Highlights include:
- “Future of Civil Rights Panel” with speakers from the Asian American Legal Defense & Education Fund, LatinoJustice, and Muslim Advocates
- Courageous Conversations about Race panel exploring PwC’s Color Brave efforts
- Gender breakout sessions featuring Calvin Gladney and Tiffany Dufu
- Lunch discussion with Executive Partner and Affinity Group Management Committee Sponsors
- Student of Color 1L Recruiting & Diversity Reception and Client Panel
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Talking Boldly About Race Workshop facilitated by Vernā Myers
Client & Alumni Development
Pan Affinity Alumni Roundtables
Weil Partner and WeilLatinx member Adam Hemlock arranged for David Arroyo, SVP and Chief Ethics & Compliance Officer at Discovery, to participate in a lunch with our attorneys of color.
In fall 2019, Weil’s Black Attorney Affinity Group co-hosted an intimate dinner with WeilLatinx for Silicon Valley clients.
WeilLatinx hosted a dinner in honor of Hispanic Heritage Month featuring a conversation with Weil alumni Vanessa Chandis and Erick Flores of NBCUniversal.
WeilLatinx held an intimate roundtable discussion for associates of color with Weil alumni Andrea Saavedra, Vice President at Goldman Sachs and Ray Mercedes, Senior Vice President, Associate General Counsel - Chief of Staff at Univision Communications, Inc. Two associates moderated the discussion around leveraging the Latino/Hispanic community, developing relationships with sponsors, and general career advice.
Federal Judge Panel
Women of Color Breakfast
Diversity Education
Mandatory Diversity Training
Weil requires all attorneys and administrative staff across the U.S. to complete a two hour Annual Mandatory Diversity Training modeled on the ethics CLE requirement. Recent topics include:
- Interactive theater on unconscious bias by Steps Drama
- Implicit bias training by the Perception Institute, which fulfilled the New York and California Diversity, Inclusion and Elimination of Bias CLE requirements.
- “Talking Boldly About Race: Being an Upstander in a Time of Cultural Unrest” in the workplace led by Vernā Myers.
Diversity Month 2019
Weil’s biennial Diversity Month took place in November 2019, with events held across Weil’s U.S. and international offices on the theme From Bystanders to Upstanders: Together We Can Make a Difference.
Diversity Recruiting
Summer Associate Recruiting
Weil hosted or participated in over 65+ targeted diversity recruiting events in 2019. The U.S. 2020 summer class was 40 percent law students of color, with 9 identifying as Hispanic or Latino.
In June 2020, Weil partnered with LatinoJustice, a non-profit organized working to create a more equitable society through education and advocacy. LatinoJustice held two events,with the first focusing on the effect of the citizen question litigation on the 2020 Census and the second discussing the importance of voting and the effects of the pandemic on voting.
In fall 2019, Weil sponsored the LatinoJustice Lideres Young Professionals Board Fall Networking reception in support of their Legal Pipeline Programs, in addition to sponsoring their annual dinner.
Diversity Fellowship
Folks Party
Summer Program
Community
MLK Day of Service
Sponsorships
Pipeline
Internship Programs
The Firm sponsors and actively participates in internship opportunities such as the Dallas Judicial Intern Opportunity Program, the Sponsors for Educational Opportunity Program (SEO) and Summer Search. Weil's New York Office has provided nearly 100 summer internships to high school and college students from community based organizations since 2013.
Key Contacts






Awards and Recognition
- Ed Soto Named to 2020 Trailblazers by Daily Business Review Firm Announcement — September 08, 2020
- 22 Weil Partners Shortlisted for Euromoney's 2020 Americas Women in Business Law Awards Firm Announcement — July 23, 2020
- Christopher Garcia Named White Collar, Regulatory & Compliance Trailblazer by The National Law Journal in 2018 Firm Announcement — May 02, 2018