SearchSpotlight on Diversity
At Zelle Hofmann, we recognize that nurturing a culture of diversity in our firm is more than policy statements and written goals. It requires continuous effort, focus and action to build awareness of the value that diversity brings to our firm and our clients. Our Spotlight section was designed for our attorneys to share experiences of how diversity impacts their daily lives in both the workplace and their community.
Shawn Stuckey
In Shawn’s capacity as co-chair of the legal department for the St. Paul NAACP, he works with community leaders and involved citizens to improve the status of disadvantaged minorities, as it relates to associated legal concerns, specifically African Americans, in the Twin Cities.
“I am committed to further enhancing and increasing my involvement in the affairs of disadvantaged minorities in the Twin Cities. Zelle Hofmann has committed to providing full support for this increased presence and the 100 hours of pro bono service that the firm allots to its attorneys is one of the many signs that it plans to stand behind this commitment.”
Tony Parsons
In addition to serving as the former hiring partner in Zelle Hofmann's Dallas office, Tony has served on the firm’s Diversity Committee since its inception. Because of these roles, hiring, mentoring and retaining top-caliber associates are constantly on his mind. That is why when he had the opportunity to get involved with the Minority Corporate Counsel Association’s Lloyd M. Johnson, Jr. Scholarship Program, which helps law students meet financial needs and exposes them to leaders in the profession who can help mentor and guide their early entry into the profession, Tony jumped at it and now serves on the Scholarship Selection Committee.
“No two people share the same backgrounds, personalities and styles. Similarly, the issues we address for our clients are different with each case we handle. To achieve the best results for our clients requires evaluation from a number of different perspectives. Because of this, beyond it simply being the right thing to do, law firms need to keep diversity issues in mind as part of their recruiting, hiring, training, and retention programs. As a father of five young children committed to being actively involved in their lives, I appreciate the fact that our firm takes diversity issues seriously and is constantly looking for ways to raise their importance, both within the firm and beyond.”
Jose Umbert
As a foreign-born, Hispanic attorney, Jose is particularly sensitive to the challenges faced by immigrants arriving into this country. For this reason, Jose has taken on the pro bono representation of several individuals who escaped persecution in their home countries by coming to the United States, in asylum proceedings before the Immigration Court. In addition, Jose volunteers for Community Legal Services in East Palo Alto, a non-profit legal services organization, translating documents from and into Spanish, and supports his wife's career as public interest / human rights attorney.
"I am committed to serving low-income persons in need of legal assistance, and to assist others within the firm to do the same. Zelle Hofmann recently formed an Affinity Group, which has as one of its goals to support the firm's associates in their pro bono efforts. I am very excited about the group's enthusiasm, and am confident that it will increase our associates' involvement in bettering the communities we serve."
Christine Phan
Christine is actively involved with the firm's Zealous Women initiative, a network of female attorneys in dispute resolution. Christine, along with other female attorneys in the firm, contributes to Zealous Women by writing articles about recent developments in the law, researching and interviewing Zealous Women outside the firm for spotlight features, and updating the content of the website with articles relevant to the experience of female attorneys.
"While it is true that no two people are alike, sometimes you just want to feel like you are not alone out there. Zealous Women has really helped the female attorneys in the firm both find their individual voices and come together as a community of professionals. Zealous Women is a forum in which women in dispute resolution can discuss shared personal and professional experiences to help us all excel in our roles as attorneys, wives, mothers, sisters, and daughters. The mere fact that the firm believes Zealous Women is a necessary resource for its attorneys showcases the firm's commitment to promoting diversity in innovative ways."
If you have questions related to Zelle Hofmann's diversity efforts, please feel free to contact our Diversity Coordinator, Patricia St. Peter at pstpeter@zelle.com.
