Canadian Lawyer InHouse

25 CANADIANLAWYERMAG.COM/INHOUSE SEPTEMBER 2015 F or the RBC General Counsel Group, diversity goes beyond basic defi nitions and respecting employment and regulatory requirements where the bank does business. Diversity is just part of the story — the bank's framework has evolved to include fostering inclu- sion and leveraging diversity of thought. "We believe that inclusion and diversity of thought is better achieved when diversity efforts are integrated into an organization's culture and prac- tices, and not just through its programs and policies," says Jane Chung, senior counsel with RBC. With this perspective, the RBC General Counsel Group set out to meet its diversity and inclusion ob- jectives by approaching the task through various con- tinuing practices and new initiatives as opposed to one single project or program. Under the leadership of former general counsel Da- vid Allgood, through its diversity and pro bono com- mittees, as well as individual efforts, the GCG works toward attaining inclusion and diversity of thought through a number of ways. Members of the GCG who support these initiatives in- clude David Aylward, Alison Burton, Jane Chung, Manju Jessa, Neil Kothari, Suzanne Michaud, Lucille D'Souza and several members of the GCG diversity committee. The GCG also participated in pro bono initiatives that serve people from disadvantaged communities, or who are without resources to address their legal challenges. RBC lawyers in New York, Minneapolis, Atlanta, To- ronto, and London volunteered a record 1,020 hours of pro bono time in the past year by assisting unrepre- sented litigants in civil matters, acting as designated representatives for unaccompanied minor children, as- sisting cancer patients with legal rights, and assisting foster parents with the adoption of older youths. The GCG has also actively engaged with law fi rms to foster professional development and advancement by hosting programs for lawyers with diverse back- grounds, including panel discussions reviewing the "dos and don'ts" for external counsel. Such initiatives were intended to provide diverse lawyers with oppor- tunities on an equal footing with other members of the profession who may not otherwise have natural mentors or sponsorship. The GCG also updated its Aboriginal Articling Student Program in the past year with an enhanced series of rotations and broader participation to further the experience of its candidates. In addi- tion, RBC lawyers have continued to mentor and supervise interns from the University of Toronto Internationally Trained Lawyers Program and the LLM Program for International Business Law at Osgoode Hall Law School. The GCG's initiatives also include its annual Day of Pink, providing support to the group's fi rst Diversity Festival, hosting the Great GC Auction to raise money for the Canadian In- stitute for Diversity and Inclusion, adopt- ing principles of gender-neutral drafting in agreements, and the need to focus on neglected segments of the population, in- cluding elder abuse. RBC believes diversity is a source of innovation and sustainable economic prosperity. SANDRA STRANGMORE STANDING (L TO R): Neil Kothari, senior counsel David Aylward, senior business manager Jane Chung, senior counsel Championing diversity in the business and the community CATEGORY: Diversity DEPARTMENT SIZE: Large COMPANY: RBC General Counsel Group

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