Engagement & Inclusion

Engagement & Inclusion Committee

The Engagement & Inclusion Committee fosters a culture of trust, engagement, inclusion and opportunity for all employees through open dialogue, ongoing education, and meaningful community outreach.                                                                                                                            

In collaboration with firm leadership, the Committee helps develop and promote programs, policies, and procedures that support and encourage an inclusive and equitable work environment.

As a firm, we strive to create a workplace where every individual is and feels valued and empowered. We champion equity and belonging as essential drivers of our culture and success.

We are committed to continuous, steady improvement, and ongoing conversation and education.

Recruitment

Recognizing that diversity is integral to our success as a law firm, we are committed to recruiting and retaining a diverse group of attorneys. 

• We take intentional steps to recruit candidates and law students from a wide range of backgrounds by actively participating in minority job fairs, such as the Southeast Minority Job Fair (SEMJF), and purposefully including the Florida A&M University College of Law, a historically Black college/university (HBCU), in our outreach.
• Our 1L Opportunity Scholar program supports the firm’s short and long term efforts to develop a deep bench of highly skilled attorneys with a variety of experiences, traditions, cultures, and backgrounds including, but not limited to, attorneys from historically underrepresented communities in the legal profession.  The program provides the opportunity for a first-year law student to join our summer associate class, with a pipeline to a second summer opportunity and potentially permanent employment.

Women's Initiative

• The Lowndes Women's Initiative provides women attorneys with quarterly professional and personal development programming, as well as relationship-building and mentorship opportunities, to support them in their careers and help them elevate as legal and community leaders. We believe that women must play an active role in leadership and policy development in order to create an inclusive, relevant and thriving law firm and community. 
• Women shareholders serve on the firm’s executive and compensation committees and chair a number of firm committees and practice groups. At Lowndes, women attorneys are at the table and in the boardroom making decisions and setting firm policies.

Education & Training

• We celebrate cultural heritage months and other inclusive-related events through educational programming and social celebrations for all staff and attorneys.
• We also invite Central Florida business and community leaders and firm clients to share their experiences and stories with us during cultural heritage months, including but not limited to Black History Month, Hispanic Heritage Month, and LGBTQ+ History Month. We want to learn from them and each other and engage in important and change-making dialogue.

In the Community

• Our pro bono work focuses on advocating for those who are most vulnerable. Our attorneys serve as guardians ad litem for vulnerable minors, with two shareholders honored multiple times for their dedication and work. We also participate in a pretrial diversion program for youths arrested for non-violent misdemeanors, represent indigent individuals who need to obtain a divorce, and assist Habitat for Humanity of Greater Orlando, Inc. with clearing land titles for homes. 
• We are active supporters of Lift Orlando, a nonprofit organization cofounded by our President & CEO William T. Dymond, Jr., that works with residents, business leaders, and community partners toward the revitalization of the historic communities of West Lakes in Orlando. 
• John Ruffier, a Lowndes shareholder, has volunteered with and served on the national boards of directors for both the Human Rights Campaign and Human Rights Campaign Foundation, the nation’s largest advocacy organizations dedicated to improving the lives of the LGBTQ+ community, rising to the role of chair of the Human Rights Campaign Board of Directors. 
• Our “Celebrating Diversity Through Art” program showcases the works of diverse artists, both locally and from around the world, at our Orlando office. The collection is curated in cooperation with the Downtown Arts District, and several pieces have been purchased by firm personnel, clients, and other visitors.
• The firm sponsored “Rising Up Parramore,” a mural project of CREW (Commercial Real Estate Women) Orlando celebrating the history of the Parramore community and honoring those who provided services to this otherwise underserved community during segregation.
• We are proud to be part of "Take the Pledge," a regional initiative sponsored by the Orlando Economic Partnership to encourage businesses to commit to creating a more diverse, equitable, and inclusive business community.