Washington, DC — The National LGBT Chamber of Commerce (NGLCC), the business voice of the LGBT Community, is proud to welcome the law firm of Eck, Collins & Richardson as a National Legal Partner. The firm is now one of NGLCC’s more than 200 corporate partners dedicated to supporting LGBT entrepreneurs and sourcing from NGLCC’s Certified LGBT Business Enterprise® (Certified LGBTBE®) suppliers. Eck, Collins & Richardson holds the distinction of being the first Certified LGBTBE® law firm to become an NGLCC corporate partner through the National Legal Partnership, which will give the firm a leadership role on the prestigious NGLCC National Legal Industry Council (NLIC).
LGBT business owners make up a significant part of the American business landscape, contributing an estimated $1.7 trillion to the U.S. economy. LGBT-owned businesses have become an essential part of corporate supplier diversity programs, and sourcing from Certified LGBTBE® suppliers is recognized as a required component of the Human Rights Campaign’s Corporate Equality Index (CEI) evaluation as well as a noteworthy contributing element of the Billion Dollar Roundtable (BDR) criteria. Additionally, the National Association of Minority and Women-Owned Law Firms (NAMWOLF) voted unanimously to include NGLCC Certified LGBTBE® suppliers as members of their organization.
“We are excited to have Eck, Collins & Richardson join us as a role model for other LGBT-owned law firms and a leader among our corporate partners in our efforts to expand LGBT-inclusive economic opportunities throughout the legal industry,” said NGLCC Co-Founder & President Justin Nelson. “Within an industry that has maintained a strong commitment to inclusion, partnering with the NGLCC is a logical next step for many law firms that seek to advance their diversity values while also attracting and maintaining Fortune 1000 clients by mirroring their inclusion practices, including supplier diversity.”
NGLCC has certified over 1000 Certified LGBTBE® suppliers since its founding in 2002. In supporting NGLCC, Eck, Collins & Richardson has committed to making efforts to include these Certified LGBTBE® companies in its procurement and sourcing efforts and providing opportunities for NGLCC’s LGBT business owners to grow and foster business relationships with Eck, Collins & Richardson’s leadership team.
“In 1969 our firm was founded by my late law partner, who happened to also be gay. In that era, it was necessary for him to have understanding female friends to be his “dates” at business functions. As the second generation LGBT owner of the firm, it has been amazing for us to participate in the transforming attitudes about diversity in business. Today we proudly tell our clients about our NGLCC membership. We attribute much of this progress to NGLCC. So, when NGLCC gave us the opportunity to become the first LGBT-owned National Legal Partner, we didn’t think twice about continuing to break new ground,” said Philip W. Richardson, Esq., Principal, Eck, Collins & Richardson.
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ABOUT NGLCC
The National LGBT Chamber of Commerce (NGLCC) is the business voice of the LGBT community and is the largest global not-for-profit advocacy organization specifically dedicated to expanding economic opportunities and advancements for LGBT people. NGLCC is the exclusive certification body for LGBT-owned businesses. www.nglcc.org @nglcc
NGLCC CONTACT
Jonathan Lovitz
Senior Vice President
press@nglcc.org
202.499.3042
@jdlovitz
