Opportunity, Inclusion & Belonging: A Tapestry of Voices

At Barclay Damon, we understand that a culture of opportunity, inclusion, and belonging is fundamental to our continued success. By embracing individuals from different backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives, we enhance the quality of our legal work and strengthen our position as a respected leader in the industry. Our dedication to fostering an inclusive environment not only creates a more dynamic workplace but also bolsters our ability to deliver exceptional legal services that meet the needs of our clients.

Barclay Damon’s opportunity, inclusion, and belonging partner oversees all opportunity, inclusion, & and belonging initiatives, including the Opportunity, Inclusion & Belonging Partner Committee, and Opportunity, Inclusion & Belonging Leadership Teams resident in each office, and our affinity networks.

Monique E. Emdin Memorial Award at University at Buffalo

Monique Emdin was a summer associate at our firm in 2006 and joined the following year as an associate. Tragically, soon after graduating from University at Buffalo School of Law, Monique was diagnosed with a rare form of cancer. After a hard battle, Monique passed away in March 2008.

Shortly after her death, the firm, in partnership with Monique’s church, Bethesda World Harvest International, and University at Buffalo School of Law, created the Monique E. Emdin Memorial Award, an endowed fund maintained by the UB Foundation that is given annually at the law school’s Students of Color Dinner to “one or more University at Buffalo School of Law’s graduating seniors who are members of groups traditionally underrepresented in the legal profession and who demonstrate a commitment to community service, including significant service in faith-based communities, or have made significant contributions to the law school through involvement in student groups,” with preference given to students who demonstrate financial need. 

Firm Honors

Recent honors from community organizations include the following:

• Barclay Damon was selected as an Elevating Women Award winner by the Rochester Business Review.
• The firm was recognized with the Law Firm Commitment Award from the Erie County Bar Association Volunteer Lawyers Project and has been recognized in past years for supporting Buffalo’s Say Yes to Education program.
• A number of the firm’s attorneys have been awarded Empire State Counsel® recognition by the New York State Bar Association for providing 50 hours or more of legal services in a calendar year to people of limited means.
• Barclay Damon was awarded the Partnership of the Year Award by Partners for Education and Business, a division of the Manufacturers Association of Central New York, for the firm’s participation and sponsorship of the internship program with Central Tech High School.
• Barclay Damon was acknowledged by the American Bar Association as a Free Legal Answers Pro Bono Leader for two consecutive years.

The firm is a workplace of choice to attorneys and staff from all backgrounds, cultures, orientations, viewpoints, and experiences. 

Barclay Damon’s pioneering 1L Summer Associate Program presents a unique, paid opportunity for first-year law students to gain professional experience typically not offered by firms until students' second year of study. Our 1L Summer Associate Program is open to any law student whose unique background, perspective, and experience will contribute to our inclusive and dynamic law firm. Over the course of their internship, students work with attorneys across the firm's practice areas to deeply experience the firm's services, culture, and business operations. The students gain valuable insight into legal areas they may want to practice after law school. Our 2L summer associates select practice “tracks”—litigation, transactional, or hybrid (a combination of litigation and transactional work)—enabling them to focus on their desired style of practice while continuing to learn and explore different practice areas and industries and develop experience and deep knowledge in a particular practice track.

The firm’s Women’s Forum helped develop our innovative HATCH program for attorneys, which provides enhanced support for attorneys who are new parents. HATCH, an acronym for Helping Attorneys and Their Children, increases the amount of paid parental leave for eligible attorneys, reduces attorneys’ billable-hour requirements before and/or after parental leave while ensuring a seamless transition of matters, provides enhanced wellness support, and more. HATCH complements the firm’s excellent benefit packages.

Consistent with Barclay Damon’s dedication to its culture of opportunity, inclusion, and belonging, the firm’s Women’s Forum helped develop our innovative HATCH program for attorneys. An acronym for Helping Attorneys and Their Children, HATCH provides enhanced support for attorneys who are new parents.
 
HATCH increases the amount of paid time off for eligible attorneys, allowing more time to bond with an adopted, fostered, or newly born child. HATCH also reduces an attorney’s billable-hour requirement for designated time periods before and/or after parental leave (known as “ramp-up” and “ramp-down” periods). 
 
Attorneys taking parental leave are provided with enhanced wellness support under HATCH. There are coordinated efforts between firm attorneys and clients to ensure work is transitioned seamlessly prior to an attorney’s leave. Barclay Damon has designated firm partners, including members of the Women’s Forum and the firm’s management, to oversee and assist in the transition. There are also coordinated efforts to support attorneys returning from parental leave as they adjust to the life changes associated with welcoming a new child.
 
Resources available under HATCH are designed to help attorneys achieve and maintain good health, wellness, resilience, productivity, and work-life balance. 

• “Barclay Damon’s HATCH program provided me with flexibility and comfort while transitioning out on maternity leave and then back into practice. From pregnancy to motherhood as a practicing attorney, I felt supported by my firm and a commitment to my continued growth.” –Carolyn Marcotte Crowley, Partner and HATCH Program Co-Coordinator
• “When my daughter was born, the HATCH program allowed me to spend meaningful time with my family that I could never get back. I did not feel at all discouraged to take time away from work, which is proof that the firm is serious about its commitment to respect its employees.” –Scott Fleischer, Partner
• "The HATCH program demonstrates Barclay Damon’s commitment to supporting new parents by encouraging them to focus on their families with the full support of the firm.  Firm leadership, through implementing the HATCH program, recognized the importance of ensuring attorneys can successfully transition into the role of a working parent and created a support system around the inevitable struggles that entails.  Through the HATCH program, I was able to dedicate invaluable time to my children without concern of any negative impact on my career development." –Jamie
  Dughi Hogenkamp, Partner