LEADE RS H I P I N A C T I O N
Chairman and Managing Director, GIBBONS P.C.
PATRICK C. DUNICAN JR. Shaping a firm-wide perspective
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t Gibbons, we understand that diversity provides valuable perspectives and cultural competencies that allow us to be more creative, efficient, and, ultimately, effective in our practice of law and service to clients. Diversity is key to our success, because diversity of perspective results in diversity of solutions, and we are in the solution-delivery business. Moreover, even beyond shaping our firm-wide perspective, diversity enhances our approach to an increasingly global marketplace in which we serve clients in their operations across the world, as well as dynamic new market segments that are expanding right in our own backyard. A solid knowledge base in an array of languages, business customs, and cultures optimizes our ability to think the way our clients think—to understand and interpret their issues and opportunities—so that we can most effectively address them. There are various challenges inherent in managing any workforce, with some particular to a diverse workforce. We are always careful at Gibbons to recruit and retain a diverse attorney workforce that is poised for organic growth. That is, we do not engage in purposeful lateral recruitment of diverse attorneys to meet random quotas or to check items off a list; rather, as we do all our young associates, we recruit diverse attorneys from clerkships at the start of their careers, who have the mix of backgrounds, qualifications, and skills that match our clients’ needs and reflect our clients’ worldviews. As these attorneys work their way up the ranks at the firm, we constantly strive to prepare them for longterm success through thoughtful, “DIVERSITY IS KEY TO OUR SUCCESS, BECAUSE DIVERSITY comprehensive professional development, mentoring, and training OF PERSPECTIVE RESULTS IN DIVERSITY OF SOLUTIONS, opportunities that directly address AND WE ARE IN THE SOLUTION-DELIVERY BUSINESS.” particular issues each diverse attorney may face. People know on the way in what our values are; our focus is to demonstrate that HEADQUARTERS: Newark, New Jersey our commitment to diversity is a consistent part of firm culture, EDUCATION: JD, cum laude, embedded in firm life from orientation through every subsequent Seton Hall University Law School; BA, Iona College stage of the employment cycle. Strong, visionary leadership is critical in this quest. To drive talFIRST JOB: Paperboy ent to reach its highest potential, leadership must present that talINTERESTS: New York Yankee baseball, ent with a range of options to assist with professional development New York Giants football and advancement, to customize those options as necessary, and to MY PHILOSOPHY: Individuals affiliated constantly review, analyze, and innovate the platforms, policies, with an organization should sublimate their egos for the good of the entire and programs that support the company’s diversity commitment. organization. When making decisions, Leadership must also build accountability into these platforms, they should never ask what is best for policies, and programs, to underscore their importance to the them, but rather what is best for vitality and success of the entire operation. PDJ their company.
PROFILES IN DIVERSITY JOURNAL
March/April 2014
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