Since the murder of George Floyd in 2020, law firms across the nation have prioritized embedding DEI (diversity, equity, and inclusion) in their operations. For many, this has meant designing policies that help ensure all employees’ perspectives are considered in decision-making—an approach that can strengthen both organizations and communities.
For Nicholas Park, managing attorney of Dentons Lee and non-executive Chair of the Global Board of Dentons—the world’s largest law firm, which spans over 80 countries and 200+ offices—this commitment has helped define his leadership.
“So much of what we do involves working with different cultures, languages, and regions,” says Park. “I hope we can create an environment that promotes both our core principles of DEI and cross-regional interaction and understanding.”
Dentons has made a commitment and set as its objective to ensure that the Firm is a place where everyone in every role, position, and location feels valued and heard as a participant in the life and business of the firm. We hope our vision will create more cohesiveness among our attorneys and employees and in our business development.”
As chairman, Park, (Kogod/MBA ’03) (WCL.JD ’02), works with management to identify the firm’s top issues so the board and its stakeholders can convene to make meaningful decisions. Through this process, he helps ensure Dentons’ leadership considers the collective interests of the firm in its strategy—a DEI-driven approach.
Park says his background in business has been essential to his success in this complex managerial role.
“To effectively understand multiple stakeholder’s needs, I have to serve as a bridge between competing interests — something I’m able to do in large part because of my business experience,” he says.