Human Rights Campaign (HRC) has awarded Kutak Rock LLP a perfect score on its 2017 Corporate Equality Index (CEI), the national benchmark on corporate policies and practices impacting LGBT employees. Earning a score of 100 distinguishes Kutak Rock as one of the “Best Places to Work for LGBT Equality,” and one of a select few law firms in the U.S. to earn that distinction.

“A 100 on the CEI underscores what I have personally experienced at Kutak Rock: a place for me to build my career on equal footing with every other lawyer and one where my wife and I are accepted like any other couple,” said Courtney Koger, chair of Kutak Rock’s National Inclusiveness and Diversity Committee and a partner in the firm’s Kansas City office. “The firm has supported LGBT attorneys and staff in countless ways over the years and I am thankful to HRC for highlighting the hard work and progressive nature of our firm and its leadership.”

Since Kutak Rock opened its doors in 1965, the firm’s culture has embraced diversity and equality in the legal profession, making strategic efforts to hire women and minority attorneys long before laws required it. This early commitment to equality and professionalism is best embodied by founder Robert J. Kutak’s chairmanship of the American Bar Association’s Special Commission on Evaluation of Professional Standards, known as the Kutak Commission, which proposed dramatic revisions to ethical rules relating to lawyers and the legal profession.

“Since our inception, Kutak Rock LLP has built an inclusive and welcoming environment,” said David Jacobson, chair of the firm. “Inclusive teams allow us to examine all aspects of complex legal issues and inspire the best work for the benefit of our clients. We are honored that our proven business methods and all-encompassing environment have earned us a 100% score on the Corporate Equality Index, the best tool the legal industry has to measure success in creating a welcoming space for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender individuals.”

Over the ensuing five decades, Kutak Rock has reinforced its commitment to LGBT rights through its inclusive Equal Employment Opportunity policy, the extension of equal benefits to all employees—including transgender employees and LGBT employees in domestic partnerships—and the work of the firm’s LGBT and Allies Affinity Group to provide networking, engagement and educational opportunities. Today, openly LGBT partners make up 4.1 percent of Kutak Rock’s partnership, more than double the National Association of Law Placement (NALP) average of 1.8 percent.

“Kutak Rock LLP stands as a leader in both its headquarters of Omaha, Nebraska and throughout its U.S. operations,” said HRC Foundation Workplace Equality Program Director Deena Fidas. “We commend the work of Kutak Rock to make its firm truly LGBT-inclusive throughout its policies, benefits and practices.”

View the full 2017 CEI Report here.

To view our most recent Inclusiveness and Diversity Annual Report, please click here.