How ridiculous is this? See the nutty story below for a story that’s not to be believed! It appears to me that the people at Skadden Arps are trying to blame TransPerfect because this law firm has too few attorneys of color in their Wilmington office. I wonder how ignorant Skadden and their former workers Andre Bouchard and Robert Pincus think the pubic is?
The TransPerfect case is still sealed up, two years after it ended and Skadden is still billing them! In my educated opinion, folks, this appears to be an attempt to hide and to divert attention away from their endless money-grab from this company by saying that TransPerfect is somehow responsible for Skadden having not being diverse enough? I don’t understand what’s up with the incessant billing, nor can I get an explanation from anybody on why it is still going on?
Look, at the end of the day, I’m an old guy set in my ways and diversity is not on my agenda of problems to solve in the world. I believe that you hire the person you feel is best suited for the job, regardless of color, race, religion or sexual orientation. As I see it, everyone should be somewhat suspicious of Skadden Arps and those Limousine Liberals that cruise around our justice system.
I’ve been watching this BS for a few years now and in my opinion, it seems they do not NOT value what they say they value. So whether it’s the non-stop money faucet from this company or playing favorites with former Skadden folks, who have moved on to positions of power in the Delaware court system, or it’s diversity in their own workplace, these guys, in my view, are not upfront.
What’s good for these guys is what’s good for them and no one else, as far as I’m concerned. They have a not-so-great track-record, not just in the U.S., but around the world. You think they’re worried about diversity in Delaware? I think they’re worried about money and cronyistic behavior. In my opinion, they’re counting on no one peeking too hard in on little-ole Delaware, while they have their way with court appointments, finances and running the show from Wilmington to Dover and everywhere in between??
I’ve been keenly aware of Skadden Arps because many of its former and current employees were involved in the TransPerfect case, which I have written about over the past few years. This law firm once employed Chancery Court Chancellor Andre Bouchard and former Chief Justice of the Delaware Supreme Court Leo Strine and of course the court-appointed custodian in the case, Robert Pincus.
The firm has doubled-down on that arrogance, in my opinion, by going after advocacy group Citizens for Pro-Business Delaware, after being faced with racism allegations from Reverend Al Sharpton last week. For the record, I can’t stand Al Sharpton! Regardless, Skadden issued a statement saying, while they are open to addressing “this systemic issue,” and they “reject attempts by Citizens for a Pro-Business Delaware” the statement says, “a group comprised primarily of employees of TransPerfect—to co-opt the conversation of diversity and inclusion in Delaware as a means to further their vendetta against our firm and former partner, who we represent in his capacity as the court-appointed custodian who oversaw the sale of TransPerfect.”
So, in my view, they cast blame and accuse wrongdoing while not taking on any blame or admitting any wrongdoing on their part. How about taking responsibility?
The Citizens group fought back, you’ll see in the story below. As far as Skadden is concerned, in my view, this is all shameful. Frankly , this diversity crap is ridiculous from both sides. I have felt that TransPerfect, Philip Shawe, and his mother Shirley Shawe all got a raw deal. Considering the conflicts of interest and in my view, continuing appearances of impropriety, is the real rub here!
Following Skadden Arps’ Criticism of Sharpton Call for Diversity at Top Law Firms, Citizens for a Pro-Business Delaware Responds
By Citizens for a Pro-Business Delaware
Published Jan 7, 2020 at 8:00 am | Updated Jan 7, 2020 at 4:02 pm
WILMINGTON, Del., Jan. 7, 2020 /PRNewswire/ —
Following Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP and Affiliates’ response to Reverend Al Sharpton’s recent call for top law firms, including Skadden, to increase diversity and inclusion efforts, CPBD Campaign Manager Chris Coffey has released the following statement:
“It’s not shocking in the least that the same firm responsible for suppressing the voices of those advocating for basic human rights in Ukraine would now shift its focus towards slinging mud at a 5,000-member grassroots organization seeking to improve diversity in the historically white and male Delaware court system. We spent over $1 million advocating for diversity in Delaware last year. What have they done?
Instead of addressing the fact that out of 72 lawyers in Delaware, Skadden has barely a handful of African American lawyers in a state that’s almost 30% black. Meanwhile, despite hollow promises to change their legacy on this, and be ‘steadfast in their efforts to build a diverse workforce,’ just one of their summer associates in Delaware – home to the nation’s busiest corporate courts – was black.
Skadden should take a long look at themselves and what they can do to be better, more honest, and more inclusive leaders in the legal community before throwing mud at those trying to break the status quo. It’s 2020 and it’s time legal industry leaders like Skadden Arps acted like it.”