Business Information

MISSION STATEMENT:

Kubicki Draper is committed to fostering an environment of equal opportunity for success and believes diversity is not only a moral imperative, but is also sound business practice. We believe a diverse law firm is a stronger, more vibrant one. Not only do different backgrounds, cultural perspectives, and life experiences reflect the communities in which we practice, but they broaden the talent pool from which we draw, and enhance our ability to maintain a competitive edge for our clients.

Our commitment to diversity and inclusion resonates throughout our organization, including the staff, directors and ownership. We value the innovative ideas persons of diverse backgrounds bring to our pool of thought which benefit our firm culture and, ultimately, our clients.

• Do you have a written diversity strategy that has been communicated to your employees?  YES
• Do you tie a component of compensation to diversity efforts?  YES
• Do you have a policy that specifically prohibits discrimination based on sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression?  YES
• Do you provide opportunity for employees to voluntarily disclose their sexual orientation or gender identity and expression through your company’s data collective procedures?  YES
• Do you have a policy that specifically provides for paid parental leave?  YES
• Do you have an equality or diversity and inclusion policy?  YES
• Do you have a policy that allows employees to work part-time without benefits?  YES
• Do you have a policy that allows employees to work flexible hours?  YES
• OWNERSHIP:
  • 36% of our Firm’s Owners Belong to Minority Groups
• WORKFORCE DIVERSITY:
  • Total Employees:  446
    • 75% of Our Employees Are Women
    • 56% of Our Attorneys Are Women
    • 54% of Our Shareholders Are Women
    • 84% of Our Employees Belong to Minority Groups
    • 36% of Our Attorneys Belong to Minority Groups
    • 25% of Our Shareholders Belong to Minority Groups
  • Executive Management Diversity:
    • 60% of the Firm’s Executive Management Team Belong to Minority Groups
      40% of the Firm’s Executive Management Team Are Women
• RESOURCE DEDICATION:
  • Diversity and Inclusion Officer:  Charles Watkins
  • Diversity and Inclusion Committee:
    • Michael Carney, Equity Shareholder
    • Earleen Cote, Equity Shareholder & Recruiting Partner
    • Sha-Mekeyia Davis, Associate Attorney
    • Aileen Diaz-Nieto, Director of Client Services
    • Alvis Horne, Associate Attorney
    • Carmela Jackson, Shareholder
  • Leadership within a Diversity Organization
    • Jennifer Feld
      • Anti-Defamation League Glass Leadership Institute, West Palm Beach, Chair (2014 – 2015)
      • Florida Association for Women Lawyers (FAWL), Member (2018- present)
      • Lactation Room Project Committee (2018-2019)
      • Lactation Room Task Force Committee, Co-Chairperson Co-Chairperson (2019-present)
  • DEI Awards and Recognitions
    • 2020 Best Lawyers “Women in the Law” Spring Business Edition, Laurie Adams, Caryn Bellus, Angela Flowers, Betsy Gallagher, Jane Rankin
    • The National Black Lawyers Top 100 in Florida, Charles Watkins, Wallace Richardson, II
  • Presenting a diversity-focused topic at a professional event
    • Anthony Atala
      • “Top Ten issues: The good Faith, The Bad faith and How to Avoid the Ugly”, National African American Insurance Association (NAAIA) Fall General Membership Meeting November 2019
    • Jennifer Feld
      • “Paths to Partnership,” Hillsborough Association for Women Lawyers, 2020
      • “The Past, Present, & Future of Parental Leave in the Legal Profession,” Jacksonville Women Lawyers Association, 2020
      • “Effective Solutions for Supporting and Promoting Women Lawyers,” Hillsborough Association for Women Lawyers, 2019
      • “Women Leaders, Career Path, and Work/Life Balance,” Western Michigan University Thomas M. Cooley Law School, 2019
    • Charles Kondla
      • “Top Ten issues: The good Faith, The Bad faith and How to Avoid the Ugly”, National African American Insurance Association (NAAIA) Fall General Membership Meeting November 2019
  • Publication of a diversity-focused article
    • Perspectives: KD Attorneys Reflect On Their Experiences With Racism And Their Hopes For The Future
      • KD Quarterly / LinkedIn, November 2020
      • Authors: Kendra Therrell, Charles Handel Watkins, Sha-Mekeyia N. Davis, Ciera C. Gainey, Alvis L. Horne, II, Wallace L. Richardson
    • The Prevalence of Opposition to Motions to Continue to Accommodate Parental Leave
      • St. Petersburg Bar Association Paraclete, February 2020
      • Author: Jennifer Feld
  • Attendance at diversity focused events:  YES
  • Diversity Training:  YES
• FINANCIAL DEDICATION
  • Sponsorship of a Diversity Event
    • American Jewish Committee – Sponsorship of the 2021 Judge Learned Hand Award
    • Florida Memorial University – Sponsorship in The Galleon Foundation Booklet
    • FSU Foundation – Racial Justice Advocacy Fund
    • Hillsborough County Bar Association’s Diversity and Inclusion Committee’s 12th Annual Diversity Networking Social
    • Holocaust Memorial Resource Center – Corporate Sponsorship Dinner Tribute
    • Holocaust Memorial Resource Center – White Rose Tribute Event
    • Miami Carol City Senior High Law Magnet College Tour Donation, 2019 & 2020
    • Naples Asian Professional Association, Asia Fest
    • National African American Insurance Association, Sponsorship of Fall Meeting
    • Tampa Bar Jewish Family Services, Trifecta Sponsorship Annual Fundraiser
  • Membership payments for employees to join diverse organizations:  YES
  • Scholarship programs toward recognized diversity pipeline:
    • FSU Foundation – Racial Justice Advocacy Fund
    • National African American Insurance Association Florida, Endowment Scholarship, Florida State University College of Business, 2021
    • National African American Insurance Association Florida, Endowment Scholarship, FAMU, 2021
    • Florida Memorial University K.B. Watkins Undergraduate Scholarship, 2017-present, 2020 Recipients: Gabrielle Armbrister & Hirakata Tengen
    • Florida Memorial University Legal Scholars Pipeline Program, September 2021
    • Florida Association of Women Lawyers Scholarship Program, Miami-Dade, Recipient Nichelle Womble, 2021, Recipient Selene Vazquez, 2020.
    • Westminster Christian School Minority Scholarship Fund September 2019
  • Supplier/Business partner diversity program:  YES
  • Social Responsibility: Volunteerism and donation to causes promoting equity partnering outside DE&I Groups:  YES
    • KD Cares- An employee driven fundraising program created to support local community nonprofit organizations across the state of Florida. Four times a year, KD employees donate money and/or goods to employee nominated, local nonprofit organizations. Kubicki Draper matches all employee donations 100%. Since its inception in 2017, KD Cares events donated over $40,000 to local organizations across the State of Florida including, A Safe Haven For Newborns, PACE Center for Girls – Broward County Chapter, Down Syndrome Association of Tallahassee, HOPE Hospice of Ft. Myers, Captains for Kids and others.
    • Miami Carol City High School Law Magnet Program
      As part of our partnership with MCC’s Law Magnet Program, our attorneys support Law Magnet students by serving as guest speakers and providing assistance in preparation for various competitions and Law Magnet related activities. Additionally, Kubicki Draper sponsors different Law Magnet activities throughout the school year.