Biglaw

Cravath Makes History In Diversity With Its New Partnership Class

This class includes the firm's second and third Black partners -- ever.

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Cravath Swaine & Moore LLP (Photo by David Lat)

Year in and year out, we watch law firm after law firm pay lip service to their commitment to diversity in the legal profession, with promises to recruit, retain, and promote more minority attorneys. Despite these continued assurances, there are still Am Law 100 firms out there that have no Black equity partners. The most offensive name to be found on that list is that of Cravath, one of the most prestigious firms in the nation. The 201-year-old firm has fewer than 100 partners, but its first Black partner left in 2017 to become a judge. Yes, the firm has announced two all-women partnership classes in the past (in 2016 and 2018), but Black lawyers seem to be all but ignored.

How could the firm that typically leads all others when it comes to compensation and bonuses fail to lead in an important area like diversity?

Cravath just announced its latest partnership class, and it looks like the firm has finally decided to step up when it comes to creating an inclusive workplace. Not only is this the firm’s largest class in recent memory, but it also includes not one, but two Black women. Here’s a memo that was sent out yesterday afternoon at the firm:

Here are the 11 lawyers who will become partners at the firm as of January 1, 2021:

  • Michael L. Arnold (J.D., Columbia Law School; B.A., University of Chicago), a member of Cravath’s Corporate Department.
  • Heather A. Benjamin (J.D., Harvard Law School; B.A., New York University), a member of Cravath’s Trusts and Estates Department.
  • Matthew J. Bobby (J.D., Harvard Law School; M.A., University of Pennsylvania; B.A., University of Pennsylvania), a member of Cravath’s Executive Compensation and Benefits Department.
  • Daniel J. Cerqueira (J.D., Harvard Law School; B.A., Cornell University), a member of Cravath’s Corporate Department, where he focuses on M&A matters.
  • Alexandra Denning (LL.M., New York University School of Law; J.D., Yale Law School; B.A., Williams College), a member of Cravath’s Trusts and Estates Department.
  • Helam Gebremariam (J.D., New York University School of Law; B.A., Columbia College), a member of Cravath’s Litigation Department.
  • Matthew G. Jones (J.D., Columbia Law School; B.A., Cornell University), a member of Cravath’s Corporate Department, where he focuses on capital markets matters.
  • Matthew M. Kelly (J.D., New York University School of Law; A.B., Dartmouth College), a member of Cravath’s Corporate Department, where he focuses on banking matters.
  • David H. Korn (J.D., Harvard Law School; A.B., Princeton University), a member of Cravath’s Litigation Department.
  • Brittany L. Sukiennik (J.D., Columbia Law School; B.A., The University of Texas at Austin), a member of Cravath’s Litigation Department.
  • Andrew M. Wark (J.D., Columbia Law School; B.S., Duke University), a member of Cravath’s Corporate Department, where he focuses on M&A matters.

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Helam Gebremariam and Heather A. Benjamin are now the second and third Black lawyers to ever become partner at Cravath. Making partner is a wonderful achievement, but making history is even better.

Faiza Saeed, Cravath’s presiding partner (and the first woman ever to lead the firm), had a statement in support of the firm’s newest members:

“We are pleased to announce the election of eleven exceptional lawyers to Cravath’s partnership this year,” presiding partner Faiza Saeed said in a statement. “Each of our new elects has made substantial contributions to our firm, serving as trusted legal advisors to our clients and demonstrating the character and collaborative spirit that we want to define our partnership. We are delighted to welcome them as partners of the firm.”

Congratulations to all of the talented lawyers selected to join the firm’s partnership, but especially to Helam and Heather. Your names will be rememberd forever as part of this elite firm’s history. Kudos to Cravath for actually making breaking barriers for Black attorneys at the firm. Hopefully, other firms will follow suit.

Has your firm recently announced its new partners? If so, what do the selections — in terms of number, practice areas, diversity, or other considerations — say about the state of your firm? Feel free to email us (subject line “[Firm Name] New Partners”) or text us (646-820-8477). Thanks.

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Cravath Announces New Partners [Cravath]
Cravath Promotes 11 to Partner, Including 2 Black Attorneys [American Lawyer]

Staci ZaretskyStaci Zaretsky is a senior editor at Above the Law, where she’s worked since 2011. She’d love to hear from you, so please feel free to email her with any tips, questions, comments, or critiques. You can follow her on Twitter or connect with her on LinkedIn.

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