Barclay Damon’s policy of affirmatively including attorneys’ and staff members’ pronouns in email signatures, website bios, and other media was noted in the Law360 article “Foster Garvey Adds Declared Name and Pronouns Policy” about law firms’ efforts to promote diversity and inclusivity. The article states:
“Foster Garvey's announcement follows initiatives by a number of other midsize firms that have also adopted similar policies regarding the usage of pronouns. Hartford, Connecticut-based Robinson & Cole LLP said it began giving attorneys the option of including their pronouns in their email signatures and firm website profiles earlier this month, and other firms such as Porter Wright Morris & Arthur LLP, Williams Mullen and Barclay Damon have also mentioned pronoun policies.”
Barclay Damon’s voluntary pronoun initiative launched on April 7, 2021. Attorney and staff have the ability to voluntarily include their pronouns in both their internal and external email signatures and in their bio on the firm’s website. The firm has also encouraged attorneys and staff to add their pronouns to their social media profiles and their virtual meeting names.
Dena DeFazio (she/her/hers), associate, and Dr. Milo Obourn (they/them/theirs and he/him/his), professor of English and Women & Gender Studies and chair of Women & Gender Studies at SUNY Brockport, were instrumental in launching the firm’s voluntary pronoun initiative.