Bloomberg Law: Sharpton Renews Criticism of Skadden Over Attorney Diversity

Civil rights advocate Rev. Al Sharpton has renewed criticism of Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom over diversity, this time over what he said was a lack of minority representation in the firm’s recently announced partner class.

On April 1, Skadden named 13 lawyers to partner. In a letter dated Wednesday to Eric Friedman, the firm’s executive partner, Sharpton said 11 of those partners “were white” and none “were African American or Latinx.” “How can we achieve an equitable justice system if people of color aren’t afforded the opportunity to work at the most prestigious law firms?” he wrote. “How can we expect the judges in our courts to reflect the racial, ethnic, and gender diversity of the communities they represent if they do not gain the experience needed to rise to those positions?”