Shearman & Sterling's Alyssa Cowley, a New York-based
associate in the Corporate Group and co-leader of Sterling Pride,
Shearman & Sterling's LGBT inclusion network, wrote an
article about the firm's leading position in fostering an
inclusive environment for LGBT lawyers and staff.
Cowley writes that Shearman's inclusivity was apparent from the
first contact during law school and has been a strong support as
she begins her career. "Beginning with the on-campus
recruitment process, the visibility of Sterling Pride lawyers
signaled to me that Shearman & Sterling was a place that I
could focus on growing as a lawyer without the distraction and
pressures of having to 'cover' as a straight woman,"
she says. "It can be easy to feel a little lost as a
first-year associate in a large New York office, but in Sterling
Pride, I felt as though I had a built-in community. Being a member
of Sterling Pride has connected me to a network of mentors,
deepened my connection with my colleagues, and has given me
opportunities to meet clients and lawyers across the
city."
As co-chair of Sterling Pride -- and as the first woman to serve in
this position -- Cowley is working toward challenging stereotypes
and carrying the message on inclusion throughout the firm and
beyond. "I believe that cultural change is achieved one person
at a time, one connection at a time. As we continue to diversify
the voices around the table, we reaffirm the value of each
individual's contributions."
Read Alyssa Cowley's article on The Glass
Hammer
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