Shearman & Sterling’s Alyssa Cowley, a New York-based associate in the Corporate Group and co-leader of Sterling Pride, Shearman & Sterling’s LGBT inclusion network, wrote an article about the firm’s leading position in fostering an inclusive environment for LGBT lawyers and staff.

Cowley writes that Shearman’s inclusivity was apparent from the first contact during law school and has been a strong support as she begins her career. “Beginning with the on-campus recruitment process, the visibility of Sterling Pride lawyers signaled to me that Shearman & Sterling was a place that I could focus on growing as a lawyer without the distraction and pressures of having to ‘cover’ as a straight woman,” she says. “It can be easy to feel a little lost as a first-year associate in a large New York office, but in Sterling Pride, I felt as though I had a built-in community. Being a member of Sterling Pride has connected me to a network of mentors, deepened my connection with my colleagues, and has given me opportunities to meet clients and lawyers across the city.”

As co-chair of Sterling Pride -- and as the first woman to serve in this position -- Cowley is working toward challenging stereotypes and carrying the message on inclusion throughout the firm and beyond. “I believe that cultural change is achieved one person at a time, one connection at a time. As we continue to diversify the voices around the table, we reaffirm the value of each individual’s contributions.”

Read Alyssa Cowley’s article on The Glass Hammer