Washington, DC. Nixon Peabody LLP, in its continued commitment to advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) across the legal profession, is proud to announce the appointment of Rekha Chiruvolu as Chief Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Officer. Rekha has served as Director of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion at the firm for more than six years. In that role, she was instrumental in establishing Nixon Peabody’s DEI goals and policies. Rekha will work alongside Joe Ortego in his role as Diversity Partner.
In 2021, Nixon Peabody took meaningful action to advance its DEI goals focusing on its people, client relationships and service, and communities. The firm has rolled out several programs and initiatives that put DEI principles at the heart of recruiting, advancement, and education through the firm’s involvement with the Move the Needle Fund (MTN). Half of all lateral partners who joined Nixon Peabody over the past year and 60% of lateral associates identify as members of an underrepresented group in the legal profession, which includes women, racially/ethnically diverse individuals, members of the LGBTQ+ community, veterans, and/or individuals with disabilities.
This influx of talent has deepened Nixon Peabody’s bench and strengthened the firm for the future. “We are proud and energized by the diversity of our laterals and the greater variety of experiences and backgrounds they are bringing to our firm as we continue to transform NP to better mirror the clients and communities we serve,” said Nixon Peabody CEO and Managing Partner Stephen Zubiago. “Rekha’s passion for DEI in the legal profession has been a common thread throughout her career, a passion which she has brought to Nixon Peabody for the last six years. We are excited to build on the momentum she and Joe have established.”
“Our firm continues to make progress in DEI as we work towards building an inclusive organization that reflects our people, clients, and communities,” added Rekha. “We also recognize that there is always more work to be done. I am proud to be part of a firm that’s eager to face these challenges head-on.”
For the fourth consecutive year, Diversity Lab honored the firm with Mansfield Certification Plus status. Nixon Peabody also earned a perfect “Corporate Equality Index” score from Human Rights Campaign for the 15th consecutive year, which earned the firm ranking as one of the “Best Places to Work for LGBTQ Equality.” Nixon Peabody also evolved its industry-first Diversity Challenge, which now offers attorneys billable hour credit for their engagement in diversity-related activities.
Rekha is active in a wide range of diversity-related organizations, including the South Asian Bar Association, the California Minority Counsel Program (CMCP), and the Leadership Council for Legal Diversity (LCLD).
Click here to learn more about Nixon Peabody’s Diversity, Equity & Inclusion initiatives.
