Burr & Forman is pleased to announce its selection by the Wells Fargo Legal Department for its 2021 Outside Counsel Diversity Award. This annual honor recognizes an outside law firm demonstrating great efforts toward improving engagement of diverse personnel at all levels of participation in Wells Fargo matters and in creating a culture of equity and inclusion in their workplace and community. In addition to recognizing the firm at a July 28 luncheon in New York City, Wells Fargo has committed to making a $5,000 donation to a charity of the firm’s choice: the George & Roszensa Shaw Center for Housing and Economic Growth in South Carolina.

“Wells Fargo has earned a strong, national reputation for its leadership both in business and in cultivating the much-needed progress to advance diversity, equity and inclusion in our communities,” said Vic Hayslip. “We are proud to be partners with such an esteemed organization, and we are deeply honored and grateful to be recognized by Wells Fargo in such an important area of focus for our firm.”

In selecting Burr & Forman from a pool of other outside firms, the Fortune 500 financial institution cited the addition of Chief Diversity & Inclusion Officer Tamika Walters in January 2021, along with several initiatives to advance a more diverse, equitable and inclusive workplace and legal industry. These included an in-depth training series on unconscious bias and anti-racism, as well as crediting 50 hours of DEI activities towards annual billable hour requirements. The firm also enhanced recruiting efforts in 2021 by conducting campus workshops for diverse law student groups, as well as awarding two $10,000 scholarships for diverse law students and leading multiple initiatives for diverse and underrepresented students. Wells Fargo also recognized the firm for having 50% or more women in its new partner class in 2021 and its commitment to seeking Mansfield Certification in 2022.

Highlighting its commitment to diverse representation in selecting Burr & Forman, Wells Fargo cited that the firm has staffed its matters with 28% diverse partners, 61% diverse non-partner attorneys and 97% diverse professional staff.

Another factor in selecting Burr & Forman is its partnership with the Shaw Center for Housing and Economic Growth, which seeks to grow the economic viability of the historically Black communities in the City of Clemson, SC. The organization works to protect the homes and neighborhoods that are under threat of displacement by providing educational sessions, drafting estate documents, handling real property matter review and providing general legal advice.

“We have made significant strides in our mission to cultivate a more inclusive environment, to ensure equal opportunities for both diverse attorneys within our ranks and students interested in the law, and to lead initiatives that make a meaningful impact in our communities,” said Tamika Walters, Chief Diversity & Inclusion Officer at Burr & Forman. “While we are excited for this recognition and the progress we have made, we all know there is much more work to do and remain committed to leveraging our firm’s position to make a lasting difference.”

About Burr & Forman LLP

For more than a century, Burr & Forman LLP’s experienced legal team has served clients at the intersection of business and government. With 350 attorneys and 19 offices across Alabama, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee, Burr & Forman draws from a diverse range of industry experience and practice knowledge to help clients address their legal needs and achieve their goals. For more information, visit the firm’s website at www.burr.com.

About Wells Fargo

Wells Fargo & Company (NYSE: WFC) is a leading financial services company that has approximately $1.9 trillion in assets, proudly serves one in three U.S. households and more than 10% of small businesses in the U.S., and is a leading middle market banking provider in the U.S. We provide a diversified set of banking, investment, and mortgage products and services, as well as consumer and commercial finance, through our four reportable operating segments: Consumer Banking and Lending, Commercial Banking, Corporate and Investment Banking, and Wealth & Investment Management. Wells Fargo ranked No. 37 on Fortune’s 2021 rankings of America’s largest corporations. In the communities we serve, the company focuses its social impact on building a sustainable, inclusive future for all by supporting housing affordability, small business growth, financial health, and a low-carbon economy. News, insights, and perspectives from Wells Fargo are also available at Wells Fargo Stories.