Stoel Rives Named Among 2017 Best Places to Work for LGBTQ Equality

The national law firm earned a perfect score on the Corporate Equality Index, a leading measure of LGBTQ-inclusive workplace policies at the largest U.S. companies and law firms

PORTLAND, Ore. — Stoel Rives is proud to announce that it again has been recognized as a national leader in workplace policies and practices to protect LGBTQ workers, earning a perfect score of 100 percent on the 2017 Corporate Equality Index (CEI), a project of the Human Rights Campaign Foundation.

The CEI is a national benchmarking survey to assess LGBTQ-inclusive policies and practices at Fortune 500 companies. For 2017, Stoel Rives joins a record-breaking 517 major U.S. businesses that also earned top marks, up from 407 last year. That is a single-year increase of more than 25 percent, the largest jump in the 15-year history of the CEI, which was launched in 2002.

“One day, every company will be inclusive, and we will no longer need an equality index,” said Timothy M. Taylor, Chair of Stoel Rives’ Diversity & Inclusion Committee.

“Until that day comes, Stoel Rives is absolutely committed to ensuring a workplace that offers policies, benefits and practices that are inclusive of the LGBTQ workforce and their families,” said Maren R. Norton, Vice Chair of Stoel Rives’ Diversity & Inclusion Committee.

Stoel Rives qualified for the Best Place to Work designation by earning a perfect score of 100 across all four primary CEI criteria: its equal opportunity employment policy, its employment benefits for LGBT employees, its organizational LGBT competency, and its public commitment to both its LGBT employees and the LGBT community at large.

“Even in the face of relentless attempts to undermine equality, America’s leading companies and law firms remain steadfast and committed to supporting and defending the rights and dignity of LGBTQ people,” said HRC President Chad Griffin.

A total of 887 companies, including 156 law firms, were rated as part of the 2017 survey, which is available online at hrc.im/CEIReport.

About Stoel Rives LLP: Stoel Rives is a leading U.S. corporate and litigation law firm. One of the largest national firms focused on energy, natural resources, environmental law and climate change, Stoel Rives also serves the agribusiness, food and beverage, health care, life sciences and technology industries. With more than 350 attorneys operating out of 10 offices in seven states and the District of Columbia, Stoel Rives is a leader in regulatory and compliance matters, business, labor and employment law, intellectual property, land use, real estate development and construction law.