Nixon Peabody

Nixon Peabody received a score of 100 on the 2026 Corporate Equality Index (CEI) from the Human Rights Campaign (HRC), a political stakeholder group. The company recruits employees based on sexual identity issues. The company discriminates against vendors that do not promote divisive sex and gender policies, indicating it prioritizes sexual issues over merit (1)(2)(3). Nixon Peabody received a score of 100 on the 2025 Corporate Equality Index (CEI) from the Human Rights Campaign (HRC), a political stakeholder group. The company recruits employees based on sexual identity issues. The company discriminates against vendors that do not promote divisive sex and gender policies, indicating it prioritizes sexual issues over merit (4)(5). However, Nixon Peabody has not publicly canceled customers, suppliers, or vendors based on political views or religious beliefs (6).

Nixon Peabody’s HRC 2026 CEI rating indicates the company will not donate to non-religious charities unless they embrace controversial sexual identity policies (1)(2)(3). Nixon Peabody’s HRC 2025 CEI rating indicates the company will not donate to non-religious charities unless they embrace controversial sexual identity policies (4)(5). The firm does not appear to discriminate against charitable organizations based on views or beliefs (6)(7).

Nixon Peabody’s HRC 2026 CEI rating indicates the company forces employees to attend at least one, controversial training on gender identity, sexual orientation, transgender issues, and divisive racial ideology. The company provides gender transition guidelines for its employees and a specific benefits guide with a comprehensive explanation of transgender services funded by the company (1)(2)(3). Nixon Peabody’s HRC 2025 CEI rating indicates the company forces employees to attend multiple, controversial trainings on gender identity, sexual orientation, transgender issues, and divisive racial ideology. The company provides gender transition guidelines for its employees and a specific benefits guide with a comprehensive explanation of transgender services funded by the company (4)(5). Nixon Peabody is Mansfield Certified, indicating its support of DEI in its recruitment, hiring, promotions, and leadership composition (6)(7). The company is a member firm of Bloomberg Law’s DEI Framework, indicating its support of DEI in its advocacy, recruitment, hiring, promotions, and leadership compensation (8)(9). Nixon Peabody instituted a mandatory firm wide unconscious bias training and workshop for all its attorneys (10). However, the firm does not provide viewpoint protections for its employees (11).

Nixon Peabody has a dedicated Fertility, Reproductive Medicine, Sexual Health & Wellness practice. The description states “We are committed to providing comprehensive support for all aspects of reproductive rights and fertility law” (1). In a July 2022 legal alert, Nixon Peabody discussed the consequences of Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization. “The absence of the federal protection of a patient’s ability to obtain an abortion means that the authority to regulate abortions (and related services) now resides with the states… State-imposed limitations and the state criminalization of access to abortion have expanded the country’s abortion and reproductive healthcare services deserts, magnifying the critical need for multi-state care delivery systems that enable patients to access critical and necessary healthcare services across state lines, particularly via telehealth” (2). In February 2025, Nixon Peabody published an alert discussing state actions affecting abortion care and stated: “Nixon Peabody will continue to monitor the nationwide reproductive rights and health landscape…” The article specifically discusses providers of abortion services, state restrictions, and the impact of federal policy on abortion rights (3). Nixon Peabody’s HRC 2026 CEI rating indicates the company potentially agrees to allow a controversial stakeholder group focused on sexual identity issues to dictate marketing or advertising strategy. By doing so, the company risks dividing employees, alienating customers and harming shareholders (4)(5)(6). Nixon Peabody’s HRC 2025 CEI rating indicates the company agrees to allow a controversial stakeholder group focused on sexual identity issues to dictate marketing or advertising strategy. By doing so, the company risks dividing employees, alienating customers and harming shareholders (7)(8). The company’s CEO Stephen Zubiango signed the CEO Action for Diversity & Inclusion pledge, which includes a commitment to promote DEI through bias education training in the workplace, strategize on DEI programs/initiatives with other signatories, and engage boards of directors when developing and evaluating DEI strategies (9)(10).

Nixon Peabody’s HRC 2026 CEI rating indicates the company covers transgender related costs for its employees and their children, including paid short-term leave, puberty blockers, cross-sex hormones, chest surgeries, genital surgeries, medical visits, lab monitoring, and mental health benefits. The company also covers at least five of the following services: reconstructive hair removal, cosmetic hair removal, tracheal shave or reduction, facial surgeries, voice modification surgery, voice modification therapy, lipoplasty or filling for body masculinization or feminization, and travel and lodging expenses. Additionally, the company has potentially pledged philanthropic support of at least one organization or event that promotes sex and gender ideology. By allowing a political stakeholder group to dictate operations, the company increases health care costs and risks dividing employees, alienating customers and harming shareholders (1)(2)(3)(4). Nixon Peabody’s HRC 2025 CEI rating indicates the company covers transgender related costs for its employees and their children, including paid short-term leave, puberty blockers, cross-sex hormones, chest surgeries, genital surgeries, medical visits and lab monitoring, travel and lodging. Additionally, the company has pledged philanthropic support of at least one organization or event that promotes sex and gender ideology. By allowing a political stakeholder group to dictate operations, the company increases health care costs and risks dividing employees, alienating customers and harming shareholders (5)(6). Otherwise, there are no publicly known cases of Nixon Peabody using corporate funds to advance ideological causes, organizations, or policies (7).

Nixon Peabody’s HRC 2025 CEI rating indicates the company publicly advocated for controversial sex and gender ideology through local, state or federal legislation or initiatives. By allowing a political stakeholder group to dictate operations, the company risks dividing employees, alienating customers and harming shareholders (1)(2). Nixon Peabody has not used its PAC donations for ideological purposes and does not engage in lobbying at this time (3)(4)(5). The firm is a part of the Law Firm Antiracism Alliance, committed to work on initiatives that fight “systemic racism” (6)(7).