February 25, 2021—Barclay Damon announces Sheila Gaddis, Diversity Partner Committee chair, has been appointed co-chair of the New York State Permanent Commission on Access to Justice’s newly created Racial and Gender Equity Working Group, effective February 3, 2021.
The Racial and Gender Equity Working Group was formed to complement the recommendations to end racial bias in the court system contained in the October 1, 2020, Report From the Special Adviser on Equal Justice in the New York State Courts (generally referred to as the Jeh Johnson Report), as well as the recommendations to end gender bias set forth in the Report on the 2020 Gender Survey, issued by the New York State Judicial Committee on Women in the Courts in November 2020.
Gaddis and her co-chair, Lillian Moy, executive director of the Legal Aid Society of Northeastern New York, will lead the working group to develop programs to address access to justice barriers outside the court system, working with civil legal services providers, bar associations, and major law firms to support their work toward achieving racial and gender equity in their own organizations and in the communities they serve.
“I am proud to have been appointed co-chair of the PCAJ’s Racial and Gender Equity Working Group,” Gaddis said. “I strongly believe law firms and bar associations can lead the way in implementing programs and policies that lead to measurable gains in racial and gender equity. I look forward to working with our partners and the community to address access to justice barriers.”
At Barclay Damon, Gaddis is the primary point of contact for the firm’s largest clients on diversity, equity, and inclusion issues. In her role as chair of the Diversity Partner Committee, she leads the firm’s diversity, equity, and inclusion initiative, authoring innovative policies and advising firm leadership on effectively recruiting and using the productive talents, energy, and creativity of a diverse workforce for maximum organizational effectiveness and the best use of intellectual capital.
“Sheila being appointed co-chair of the working group is a wonderful achievement,” Connie Cahill, the firm’s managing partner, said. “This experience will add to her already diverse portfolio and will undoubtedly assist her in the continued development of Barclay Damon’s diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts. I am confident Sheila will bring the same dedication and enthusiasm to her work with the Racial and Gender Equity Working Group as she does to her own practice and her work with the Diversity Partner Committee. Sheila has made a lasting impact on Barclay Damon and we look forward to seeing the impact she has on the working group.”
Barclay Damon attorneys team across offices and practices to provide customized, targeted solutions grounded in industry knowledge and a deep understanding of our clients’ businesses. With nearly 300 attorneys, Barclay Damon is a leading law firm that operates from a strategic platform of offices located in the Northeastern United States and Toronto. For more information, visit our award-winning website at barclaydamon.com.