Vinson & Elkins taps former NYC Bar diversity director

Vinson & Elkins taps former NYC Bar diversity director

At US rival Sidley Austin, Deborah Martin Owens joins a year later

The firm has hired Deborah Martin Owens, a former head of diversity at the New York City Bar, as the global director of diversity, equity and inclusion (DE&I).

Judith Martin Owens joins the Houston-based law firm after serving as diversity director of US rival Sidley Austin for a little over a year. Her office is in New York.

The addition of Martin Owens to the Vinson management committee, described by David Oelman as integral to the creation of a more inclusive culture, has made the firm a more comprehensive place.

In his words, "Her years of experience as a lawyer working on DE&I strategy and supporting colleagues in the workplace are unique and we know she will be a valuable asset to the firm for long-term success in this area."

Martin Owens implemented D&I initiatives for the firm's New York, Boston and Washington offices during her tenure at Sidley. Her previous roles include serving as executive director of diversity and inclusion for the New York City Bar Association for more than two years. She has developed the Associate Leadership Institute, an associate development program. She has previously worked as an attorney in the New York office of Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan for more than a decade.

Vinson seeks Martin Owens for his experience in working on DE&I initiatives across the firm as well as serving as a strategic advisor to the firm's leadership on retention and promotion for understated lawyers.

"Our core principles pertaining to diversity and inclusion (DE&I) are critical to attracting and retaining business professionals and lawyers," says Hy Pomerance, Vinson's chief talent officer. Deborah and our DE&I team will achieve a greater alignment between business objectives and our mission to improve inclusive culture through defining clear goals and metrics."

In September, 2021, Vinson became one of 118 law firms certified by the Mansfield Rule 4.0. The firm collaborated with Diversity Lab for a year prior to certification. A minimum of 30 percent of candidates from understated groups will be on the management committees of firms through this programme.

Vinson's appointment of Martin Owens comes amid a flurry of ESG-related appointments around the globe as law firms work to upgrade their offerings and cope with the increased demand from clients.

In February, Latham & Watkins appointed Sarah Fortt, who previously led Vinson, to run its own ESG practice in the US. She will work along former Davis Polk & Wardwell lawyer Betty Huber.

In February 2022, Dentons appointed Hogan Lovells' global sustainability head, Aragon St-Charles, as it's first-ever ESG manager. In London, Mishcon de Reya has promoted EY's former global climate change and sustainability leader to a similar role within its sustainability practices, Mishcon Purpose.

A former Linklaters lawyer and sustainability expert, Ulysses Smith, was also hired as Debevoise & Plimpton's first senior ESG adviser in New York in November, 2021.