Debevoise & Plimpton LLP

New York
Commercial and Professional Services, Legal

Corprate Bias Ratings

Risk Level:

Rating - Danger
High Risk

Debevoise & Plimpton vets vendors for LGBTQ policies and does not provide viewpoint protections for its employees. However, it has not publicly terminated business relationships based on views or beliefs. The company covers the cost of "medically necessary transition-related care” for its employees and their children. Debevoise & Plimpton supports the Equality Act, filed numerous amicus briefs against state-level abortion legislation, and publicly denounced various election integrity bills, The company offered pro bono legal counsel for companies who wish to fund employees' out-of-state abortion-related expenses and regularly supports BLM and LGBTQ causes. For these reasons, Debevoise & Plimpton receives a High Risk rating.

Criteria
Risk Level
Rationale
Corporate Weaponization
Criteria

Has denied service to customers, suppliers, or vendors due to their political views or religious beliefs OR corporately boycotts, divests, or sanctions regions, people groups, or industries.

Risk Level
Rationale

Debevoise & Plimpton received a score of 100 on the Human Rights Campaign’s (HRC) Corporate Equality Index. Among other requirements, this means the firm has a written policy pledging to vet vendors for LGBTQ policies (1)(2). However, the company has not publicly fired customers, suppliers, or vendors based on political views or religious beliefs.

Criteria

Charitable giving (including employee matching programs) policies or practices discriminate against charitable organizations based on views or religious beliefs.

Risk Level
Rationale

Debevoise & Plimpton does not appear to discriminate against religious organizations in its charitable giving (1)(2).

Criteria

Employment policies fail to protect against discrimination based on political affiliation/views and/or religion.

Risk Level
Rationale

Debevoise & Plimpton does not provide viewpoint protections for its employees (1).

Corporate Governance and Public Policy
Criteria

Uses corporate reputation to support ideological causes and/or organizations hostile to freedom of expression.

Risk Level
Rationale

Debevoise & Plimpton signed an open letter in support of the Equality Act and the company has implemented unconscious bias trainings for its employees (1)(2). The company joined a Bar Association of San Francisco coalition of law firms who are “ready to defend access to reproductive healthcare” in the wake of the overturn of Roe v. Wade (3). The firm joined numerous other large American law firms in denouncing various state- and federal-level election security bills (4). Debevoise & Plimpton describes itself as “seriously” committed to ESG and runs a weekly update newsletter detailing legislative developments surrounding ESG principles nationwide (5)(6). The company has also filed amicus briefs against anti-abortion state-level laws in Texas and Idaho, and has offered its legal counsel to employers who wish to cover employees’ out-of-state abortion costs (7)(8)(9). Debevoise & Plimpton achieved “Mansfield 5.0 Certification” which is awarded to firms who increase the number of women, LGBTQ, and underrepresented ethnic lawyers considered for promotions (10). Nawi Ukabiala, an associate at Debevoise & Plimpton, wrote an article discussing support for the Black Lives Matter movement. The article was reposted on Debevoise & Plimpton’s website (11)(12). Debevoise & Plimpton has orchestrated litigation for LGBTQ rights in various parts of the world and filed an amicus brief with the National Women’s Law Center which challenged race-based discipline including dress codes and uniform policies (13)(14).

Criteria

Uses corporate funds to advance ideological causes, organizations, or policies hostile to freedom of expression.

Risk Level
Rationale

Debevoise & Plimpton has a perfect score on the HRC’s 2022 Corporate Equality Index. This score indicates the company covers the cost of “medically necessary transition-related care” for its employees and their children (1)(2). Debevoise & Plimpton has engaged in pro bono work to counter anti-abortion laws internationally (3)(4).

Criteria

Uses corporate political contributions for ideological, non-business purposes.

Risk Level
Rationale

Debevoise & Plimpton does not operate a PAC at this time (1).

All links were last accessed and all information was updated on:
November 28, 2023

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