Adams and Reese LLP - 1792 Exchange

Rating Overview

Adams and Reese LLP is Lower Risk.

Adams and Reese LLP is Lower Risk. The company does not yield to political activism in shaping corporate governance, preventing initiatives that potentially alienate consumers, divide employees, and harm shareholders. The company elevates merit, excellence, and integrity ahead of race and identity-based policies. Adams and Reese LLP does not embrace corporate initiatives that redirect its central focus from business goals to partisan policies and divisive issues. This approach protects free exercise, free speech, and free enterprise.

Rating Criteria

Corporate Weaponization Risk Levels
Criteria	Risk Level
Cancellations	Lower Risk
Discriminatory Philanthropy	Lower Risk
Employment Protection	High Risk

Corporate Weaponization ⓘ

Corporate Governance and Public Policy Risk Levels
Criteria	Risk Level
Advocacy Bias	Lower Risk
Funding	Medium Risk
Political Actions	Lower Risk

Corporate Governance and Public Policy ⓘ

Rating Criteria Detail

Criteria Risk Level Rationale

Corporate Weaponization

Criteria:

Has canceled 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:

Lower

Rationale:

Adams and Reese has not publicly canceled customers, suppliers, or vendors based on political views or religious beliefs (1).

Criteria:

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

Risk Level:

Lower

Rationale:

Adams and Reese does not publish charitable giving guidelines (1).

Criteria:

Employment policies fail to protect against viewpoint or other discrimination and/or are ideological in nature.

Risk Level:

High

Rationale:

Adams and Reese is Mansfield Certified, indicating its support of DEI in its recruitment, hiring, promotions, and leadership composition (1)(2). Adams and Reese received a letter from the American Alliance for Equal Rights (AAFER), demanding its diversity fellowship stop using race as a determining factor of who qualifies for the program. AAFER did not file a lawsuit because the firm made “substantial changes” to its fellowship. The firm only allowed law students who are “members of racial and ethnic minority groups and other disadvantaged groups” into its Adams and Reese 1L Minority Fellowship. However, Adams and Reese removed this language from the application. The firm sent a letter to AAFER promising to not proceed with its Adams and Reese 1L Minority Fellowship starting in 2024 (3)(4). Adams and Reese does not provide viewpoint protections for its employees (5).

Corporate Governance and Public Policy

Criteria:

Uses corporate reputation to support causes, organizations, or policies hostile to freedom of expression.

Risk Level:

Lower

Rationale:

Adams and Reese has not supported ideological causes or policies (1).

Criteria:

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

Risk Level:

Medium

Rationale:

Adams and Reese is a member of the MCCA, indicating its focus on recruiting, retaining, and promoting employees based on race (1)(2). Otherwise, there are no publicly known cases of Adams and Reese using corporate funds to advance ideological causes, organizations, or policies (3).

Criteria:

Uses corporate political actions and/or financial contributions for ideological, non-business purposes.

Risk Level:

Lower

Rationale:

Adams and Reese has not used its PAC donations for ideological purposes and does not engage in lobbying at this time (1)(2)(3).