For 3rd Year CDF Labor Law’s Track Record in Minority and Women Hiring and Promotions Makes Best Law Firm List
Jul 13, 2021

IRVINE, Calif., July 13, 2021--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The first time it happened, founding partners at CDF Labor Law, originally from national law firms, were thrilled. Then it happened again and again. "We were just following our vision of a culture we knew could thrive," says Tim Freudenberger, Co-Founding Partner. Today, CDF is a leading mid-sized law firm specializing in representing California employers in employment, labor and immigration matters and is rated among the top-ten firms for female and minority attorneys.According to law360.com (data ranks California law firms of similar size):

  • For three years running, CDF has been rated one of the top-ten "Best Law Firms for Female and Minority Attorneys."

  • In its 2020 "Glass Ceiling" Report, CDF was ranked a top-ten "Ceiling Smasher" for the highest representation of women in their equity partnerships.

  • In 2019, CDF was named a top-ten "Best Law Firm for Minority Partners."

  • Currently, 37% of CDF attorneys are minorities vs. in 2019 14% at other firms.

Given the nation’s increased interest and sensitivity in race and gender issues, the spotlight has turned to verifiable actions by employers in terms of their hiring and promoting minorities and women. Acknowledging the rhetoric can get intense, when listening and looking at the facts in allegations of race bias, a sound guiding principle is, "Investigators should be adept at having difficult conversations and able to approach these topics with an appropriate level of empathy and curiosity," according to a May 18, 2021 article in the San Francisco and Los Angeles Daily Journal, by CDF’s Partner and Chair of the Internal Investigations Practice GroupDaphne P. Bishop.

Marie DiSante, Co-Founder and Firm Managing Partner, doesn’t see this as a time to rest on one’s laurels. Daughter of an Italian immigrant, DiSante says, "In 2018, women of color made up 18% of California’s associate class of 2018, but only 8% of attorneys in private practice. That’s flat out unacceptable." In the December 2018 edition of Corporate Counsel, DiSante was recognized for her "transformative" leadership in mentoring and creating leadership positions for women and minorities within the firm. Although 33% of CDF attorneys are women of color, CDF’s management team believes more needs to be done across the board.

"Diversity is not complicated. CDF is strengthened in every way by recruiting exceptional talent from diverse pools of attorneys and promoting them as fast and far as they merit. Mentoring isn’t always convenient or easy, but it guides our associates to their highest potential which increases our rates of retention and promotion," says DiSante.

With close to 50 attorneys, and five offices, DiSante appreciates how the industry recognition attracts excellent attorneys statewide ranging from recent grads to partners of all ethnicities, race, sexual orientation, and gender. "They know we provide an exceptionally fertile environment for their career success," she says.

About CDF Labor Law LLP

For over 25 years, CDF has distinguished itself as one of the top employment, labor and immigration firms in California, defending, advising and counseling national and regional employers with California employees and workforces, as well as California-based startups, midsize ventures, and privately and publicly held companies and Fortune 500 corporations on legal compliance. CDF is ranked highly for its hiring and promotion of women and minorities. Its blog, callaborlaw.com has over 5,000 subscribers who seek the up-to-the-minute alerts on what California employers need to know about the state’s ever-changing maze of laws and regulations.
For more information, visit us at: cdflaborlaw.com.

Media Contact:  Dorothy Rausa 949-622-1661

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