BR United

BR United is our multicultural affinity group for attorneys of color that focuses on action and equitable results when it comes to advocating for positive change.

BR United fosters an inclusive culture and equitable work environment by holding our members and colleagues accountable to implementing our values in all we do and achieving our strategic goals. We provide professional development programs that cover the full spectrum of attorney development from junior associate to senior level partner, as well as leadership development programming. We are members of affinity bar associations and community groups that align with our goals and needs. We host events to provide opportunities for our attorneys to build relationships across offices, departments, and practices, as well as sponsor external opportunities for our attorneys to attend various conferences. Every other year, we host a DEI Summit at Blank Rome to come together with clients for experiential learning and socializing.

Under the umbrella of BR United are our culturally-oriented affinity subgroups—BR Asian, BR Black, BR Latinx, and BR MENA—which bolster our diversity, equity, and inclusion goals through attracting talent, presenting growth opportunities and resources to develop members, and serving as a lever for inclusion and business opportunities at Blank Rome, leveraging the connections, expertise, and knowledge of the members.

  • BR Asian is a professional community for colleagues of Asian, Asian American, and Pacific Islander descent to gather, share and address issues and concerns that impact the group, and engage in work to educate and spread awareness about the different cultures and ethnicities of the Asian and Pacific Islander ethnocultural backgrounds. As a Blank Rome community, BR Asian will share related resources, host cultural and networking events to connect colleagues internally and externally, introduce branding opportunities, and foster inclusion that empowers this community to continue strengthening their identities.
  • BR Black is a professional community for colleagues of the African and Black diaspora to gather, share and address issues and concerns that impact the group, and engage in work to educate and spread awareness about the different cultures and ethnicities of the Black ethnocultural backgrounds. As a Blank Rome community, BR Black will share related resources, host cultural and networking events to connect colleagues internally and externally, introduce branding opportunities, and foster inclusion that empowers this community to continue strengthening their identities.
  • BR Latinx is a professional community for colleagues of the Hispanic and Latin diaspora to gather, share and address issues and concerns that impact the group, and engage in work to educate and spread awareness about the different cultures and ethnicities of the Hispanic and Latinx ethnocultural backgrounds. As a Blank Rome community, BR Latinx will share related resources, host cultural and networking events to connect colleagues internally and externally, introduce branding opportunities, and foster inclusion that empowers this community to continue strengthening their identities.
  • BR MENA is a professional community for colleagues representing Iran, Lebanon, Turkey, Iraq, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Morocco, Palestine, Israel, Tunisia, and Syria to gather, share and address issues and concerns that impact the group, and engage in work to educate and spread awareness about the different cultures and ethnicities of the Middle Eastern and North African ethnocultural backgrounds. As a Blank Rome community, BR MENA will share related resources, host cultural and networking events to connect colleagues internally and externally, introduce branding opportunities, and foster inclusion that empowers this community to continue strengthening their identities.

BR United Professional Development Programs

  • BR Achieve is a professional development training program tailored for junior associates who are active members of BR United. BR Achieve focuses on building professional and technical skills, while also having open discussions about how to thrive in Big Law.
  • BR Belonging is a supplemental mentorship and sponsorship program for ethnically diverse attorneys with two tracks—one for associates and counsel and one for junior partners—meant to address the holistic needs of participants, including professional development, business development, community and networking, and wellness, while also providing resources and information to help navigate the law firm work environment. We provide a Mentoring Toolkit to assist mentees and mentors in developing a successful relationship. Mentees also receive guidance from our executive and client generator circles.
  • BR Advance is a multi-pronged leadership development program tailored for high-performance women of color attorneys and legal professionals who are mid to senior level, to assess and evaluate current leadership competencies and skills, develop skills to fill gaps, and provide personal development and branding coaching. This program is designed to groom new and emerging leaders and partners at the firm, while addressing the needs and intersectional challenges of women of color in the legal industry. 
  • McKinsey & Company’s Connected Leaders Academy is a training program that is part of their racial equity plan to help organizations make demonstrable progress on inclusion and equity, improve talent pipelines, and unlock the full potential of people within the company. This program—offered at no cost to cohorts of Black, Hispanic and Latino, and Asian leaders—focuses on early professionals, midcareer managers, and senior executives.

BR United Chairs:

Cheryl S. Chang
Partner, Consumer Financial Services Practice Group
Los Angeles

Morgan Fraser Mouchette
Partner, Matrimonial and Family Law Practice Group
New York City