Diversity

In 2020, the firm elected Kalpana Srinivasan to serve as the fourth co-Managing Partner in the firm’s 40-year history. She is the first person of color to serve as managing partner, the first female managing partner, and the first leader of the firm to have risen through the associate ranks. With the 2021 election of Vineet Bhatia to serve as co-Managing Partner alongside Ms. Srinivasan, both of Susman Godfrey’s managing partners identify with groups that are underrepresented in the profession, a testament to the firm’s belief that diverse leadership is a critical factor to our success.

Susman Godfrey seeks to attract the brightest legal minds from diverse talent pools and understands that promoting diversity is an ongoing mandate. The firm strongly encourages members of all grounds underrepresented in the profession to apply to join us. Susman Godfrey does not discriminate based on race, creed, religion, color, national origin, ancestry, sex, age, marital status, disability, sexual orientation, or gender identity.

The Susman Godfrey Diversity Committee regularly meets to discuss and execute diversity-related initiatives. The Diversity Committee is comprised of partners and associates who are dedicated to improving diversity within the firm, including by recruiting and supporting lawyers who identify as members of groups underrepresented in today’s legal profession. The Committee also continues work first initiated by the Racial Justice Working Group, which was created in the wake of the wanton killing of George Floyd.

Susman Godfrey has signed a Gender Fairness Commitment Statement as part of the Houston Bar Association’s Gender Fairness Initiative.

Susman Godfrey offers unlimited paid parental leave to new parents, regardless of gender or caregiver status..

Susman Godfrey offers a two-week fellowship to first-year law students who have overcome personal or systemic hardships or disadvantages, including experiences of those who self-identify as members of groups underrepresented in today’s legal profession. The firm seeks diverse applicants who have excelled in their first semester of law school and want to learn firsthand about trial work at Susman Godfrey. Fellows receive $5,000 upon acceptance of the fellowship. Click here to apply.

In 2020, the firm developed and announced the Susman Godfrey Prize, an honor awarded annually to students of color who are finishing their first or second year at an eligible law school. Recipients of the SG Prize receive $3,500 and ongoing mentoring from partners and associates at the firm. Learn about our past winners here: 2024, 2023, 2022, 2021..