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Diversity, Equity & Inclusion

Commitment to Diversity, Equity and Inclusion

Wargo French Singer is a law firm of diverse attorneys built on the principal of intentional inclusivity.  We recognize that the diverse experiences, perspectives, and backgrounds of our attorneys result in more creative ideas, more productive discussions, and more innovative solutions for our clients.  The firm is a certified Minority Business Enterprise (MBE) by the Georgia Minority Supplier Development Council (GMSDC), holds a current certificate through The National Minority Supplier Development Council (NMSDC), and is a proud member of the National Association of Minority & Women Owned Law Firms (NAMWOLF).  We also meet or exceed Law360’s published standards for the “The Best Law Firms for Women and Minority Attorneys.”

We are proud of our culture, where our attorneys understand the value and importance of diversity, equity and inclusion, and we are deeply committed to the continued advancement of diversity within the firm, throughout the legal profession, and in the communities we serve. In addition to NAMWOLF, WFS sponsors and hosts—and promotes its attorneys to actively engage with—a number of organizations in the legal industry and in our communities that share the common goals of diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility.  These organizations include, but are not limited to, the University of Florida’s Association of Hispanic Alumni, the Cuban Bar Association, the Florida Association of Women Lawyers (FAWL), the Georgia Association of Women Lawyers (GAWL), The WICT Network, Women in the Young Professional Council of the Legal Aid Society of Greater Miami, the Atlanta Women’s Foundation, Power My Learning, the University of Georgia’s Women Law Students Association, and the Mercer University School of Law’s Black Law Students Association (BLSA) Alumni Council.  We often include our clients in such programs.  We also work tirelessly to find and invest in opportunities to support and enrich our clients’ involvement in the community.

The following are some of the specific goals and objectives related to diversity, equity and inclusion that the firm has established:

  • Recruit and Retain Diverse Talent. WFS is committed to recruiting and retaining diverse talent at all levels, ensuring our attorneys have a path to long-term success at the firm. Our firm’s hiring practices are led by a senior female attorney who is committed to recruiting and elevating diverse attorneys to the firm. Developing and retaining diverse talent is not simply a goal for WFS but a governing philosophy. Indeed, 61% of our attorneys are diverse (i.e., minority, women, and/or LGBTQ), while 67% of our equity partners are diverse, including the firm’s founding partner, Joseph Wargo. A number of our diverse attorneys started as summer associates and have continued their careers at the firm to become Of Counsel or Partners. 
  • Partner with Companies that Promote Our DE&I Goals. We routinely look for ways to partner with our clients and other companies to work toward common goals for diversity, equity and inclusion. These range from consideration of diversity in staffing decisions to collaborations that advance the legal interests of diverse and historically underserved populations. By way of example, our attorneys routinely partner with other diverse firms through the NAMWOLF network to obtain local counsel or particular expertise on client matters, and we look to utilize diversely owned vendors to support our legal work whenever possible.
  • Encourage and Empower Our Attorneys to Become Leaders in the DE&I Space. WFS employs a tailored approach to supporting the development and advancement of our attorneys, empowering them to build and maintain networks with clients and the community and partner with organizations that enhance diversity, equity and inclusion. For example, Laurie Selkowitz, a partner in our Los Angeles office, currently serves as the Co-Chair of the Transactional Practice Area Committee for NAMWOLF, and Daniel Perez, a partner in our Miami office, is an actively engaged member of the Trials Practice Area Committee for NAMWOLF. Alina Singer, one of the firm’s equity partners, routinely moderates and participates in programming sponsored by the firm and The WICT Network (previously Women in Cable and Telecommunications) relating to the advancement of female professionals and encouraging women to be leaders within their organizations.
  • Promote Inclusive Behavior. We strive to have a workplace environment that is rooted in teamwork and collaboration where everyone’s thoughts, perspectives and opinions are valued. When discussing strategy, our senior attorneys often solicit the insight and feedback of the most junior attorneys first, allowing them to participate in thought discussion and providing opportunities for everyone on the team to participate in and set strategy for a particular matter. We also seek every available opportunity for junior attorneys to argue in court, take depositions, and lead substantive deal calls with clients and opposing counsel.

The following are some of the most recent representative examples of our involvement with diverse organizations:

  • WFS was one of two firms to host the “In-House Counsel Meet & Greet Reception” at the NAMWOLF Annual Conference in Los Angeles.  WFS attorneys are active in many NAMWOLF committees and initiatives, including the Transactional Practice Area Committee (PAC), Trials PAC, Insurance PAC, Intellectual Property PAC, Financial Services Litigation PAC and the Marketing Best Practices Committee.  Additionally, WFS is a NAMWOLF Annual Meeting Supporting Law Firm Sponsor.
  • WFS has supported organizations serving underrepresented communities by sponsoring and hosting events with these organizations, including the Atlanta Women’s Foundation’s Women in Law Reception and the Numbers Too Big to Ignore Luncheon, Power My Learning’s Innovative Learning Awards Gala, the University of Georgia’s Women Law Students Association Mentoring Event, and the Mercer University School of Law’s BLSA Alumni Council’s Breakfast.
  • WFS has been a Gold Level sponsor of the Southeast Chapter of The WICT Network for over a decade.
  • WFS was nominated for the Supplier of the Year – Class II Award at the Georgia Minority Supplier Development Council (GMSDC) Spirit of Alliance Awards Dinner.
  • WFS’s Atlanta office hosted the first event in the Southeast for the Minority In-House Counsel Association (MIHCA) titled “Key Strategies for Leveraging Your Career Trajectory.”
  • WFS has been an exclusive sponsor of the Georgia Association of Women Lawyers (GAWL) Annual Judicial Luncheon.  The firm also has been the exclusive (lead) Title Sponsor of the Florida Association of Women Lawyers (FAWL) Annual Judicial Reception.  WFS was recognized with a Friends of FAWL award for our involvement with Miami Dade-FAWL and commitment to the organization at its 35th annual judicial reception, and also was recognized for its lawyers who are “GOOD Guys” (guys overcoming obstacles to diversity).