Debevoise has long been committed to attracting, retaining and promoting a diverse population of lawyers and administrative staff as part of building the strongest possible firm. To ensure continuing focus on that commitment, the firm has an active Diversity Committee that manages diversity issues at the firm in three general areas: recruiting, professional development and communication. The Committee coordinates with the Hiring Committee to enhance the firm's ability to recruit talented lawyers and staff of diverse backgrounds. The Committee reviews and develops activities and programs to promote professional development and training opportunities that enhance the retention and advancement of our diverse community. The Committee also works to promote awareness, provide education and encourage open and ongoing discussions about diversity issues throughout the firm.

• Debevoise was identified by the 2006 Vault Top 100 Law Firms Report as the 3rd New York City firm and the 10th firm overall of the best law firms for diversity.
• In August 2007, Debevoise won an award as one of the Best Law Firms for Women based on a nationwide survey conducted by Working Mothers' magazine and the Flex-Time Lawyers Group. To win the award, we completed an extensive survey reporting on the firm's demographics, benefits and policies, women in leadership roles and the part-time program.
  
• As of July 1, 2007, 257 of Debevoise lawyers are women and 125 lawyers are from minority groups out of a total of 638 lawyers firmwide.
  
• 52% of the associates hired into the firm’s New York office over the past five years were women.  As of July 2007, 49% of the firm’s associates firmwide are women.
• 26% of the associates hired into the firm’s New York office over the past five years were members of minority groups.
  
• Debevoise women lawyers play a critical role in leadership of the firm.  Mary Jo White is the Chair of the firm’s Litigation Department, Mary Beth Hogan is a member of the firm’s Management Committee. Franci Blassberg is Co-Chair of the Corporate Department’s Private Equity Group with Peggy Davenport.
  
• In leadership of the profession outside the firm, Barbara Paul Robinson was the first woman President of the Association of the Bar of the City of New York, 1994-96. She is currently a member of the DirectWomen Insitute, a joint venture of the ABA and Catalyst formed to train women lawyers to become directors of public companies. Molly Boast is Chair of the Association's Federal Courts Committee. Mary Beth Hogan is a board member of Catalyst, a research and advisory organization that promotes women's career advancement and leadership.

• Venture Capital Association of Nigeria (VCAN) in conjunction with the Community Development Venture Capital Alliance.  This project relates to possible amendments to recent regulations that require Nigerian banks to set aside 10% of their pre-tax profits to make equity investments within Nigeria.
  
• LAMBDA, including filing an amicus brief in the recent successful appeal in Lawrence v. Texas in the U.S. Supreme Court.
  
• Harlem Textile Works, an organization that provides Black and Latino young adults with design training and job readiness skills.
  
• The Department of Education and the Hetrick-Martin Institute (HMI), a multiservice agency dedicated to serving gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender and questioning youth, in a lawsuit challenging the creation of the Harvey Milk School.  Two Debevoise lawyers also serve on HMI’s Board of Directors.
  
• The African American Music Hall of Fame and Museum (TAAMHOF), an organization established to chronicle, celebrate and preserve the legacy of African American performing artists.
  
• Girls Action Network, Inc. (GAN), an organization established to empower girls through vocational awareness and to increase the likelihood of their success in terms of skill sets, salary, self-esteem, community, civic, and corporate participation.  GAN serves girls in grades 7-12 with a particular focus on girls from underserved communities.  A Debevoise lawyer founded and sits on the Board of Directors of GAN.
  
• Committee for Hispanic Children and Families, a non-profit corporation providing services to low-income latino communities, including health, education, immigration advice and assistance.
  
• Lawyers Committee for Human Rights asylum cases for clients from all over the world, including Columbia, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Zimbabwe, the People’s Republic of China among many other countries.

• The 1991 Statement of Goals of New York Law Firms and Corporate Legal Departments for Increasing Minority Representation and Retention.
• The 1998 Restatement and Reaffirmation of Goals for the hiring, retention and promotion of attorneys of color and the retention and promotion of women.
• The 2003 Statement of Diversity.  Debevoise was one of the first firms to sign onto the statement.