Overview

Our Philosophy

Baird Holm conducts business throughout the United States, and values the rich environment and creative approach that comes with a diverse workplace. Baird Holm supports the National October 2004 Diversity Call to Action. The Call to Action is a pledge by many law firms to increase diversity in the legal profession and includes specific commitments to do so. Baird Holm also founded the Nebraska Call to Action in 2007. We are committed to a firm culture in which attorneys and staff of differing genders, colors, race, ethnicity, religions, disabilities and sexual orientations work well together to deliver superior legal services and enjoy equal opportunities at success in their careers.

Baird Holm's commitment to attracting, retaining, and promoting a diverse workforce is not only integral to the legal work of the Firm, but also to serving the interests of a wide-ranging client base and their beneficiaries.

Our History

Baird Holm has a history of commitment to diversity. In 1997, the Midlands Bar Association awarded Baird Holm its "Pledge to Diversity Award" in recognition of its recruiting and hiring efforts and accomplishments. The Midlands Bar Association is an affiliate of the National Bar Association, an organization devoted to (among other things) advancing the interests of African-American attorneys. 
 
In March 2002, former Managing Partner Deryl Hamann was appointed to serve on the Minority and Justice Task Force, a joint committee of the Nebraska Supreme Court and the Nebraska State Bar Association. The purpose of the committee was to identify actual or perceived racial/ethnic bias and discrimination in the Nebraska justice system and make recommendations to the Supreme Court on how to address the inequities. Deryl served as the co-chair of the Access to Legal Profession Subcommittee, which produced several recommendations to increase the diversity of the students at Nebraska's law schools and the State's practicing attorneys, particularly at the larger firms in Nebraska. 
 
Today the Minority and Justice Implementation Committee seeks to implement many of these recommendations and other members of the Firm continue to be active in such efforts. Elizabeth Eynon-Kokrda serves on the Legal Profession Subcommittee, focusing on expanding the number of minorities in the legal profession. 

Diversity Committee

As part of the Firm's strategic direction, Baird Holm established a committee to identify, evaluate, and pursue diversity initiatives at the Firm. The Diversity Committee reports directly to the Firm's Executive Committee.

The Diversity Committee is co-chaired by partners Julie Knutson and Chris Hedican and includes Managing Partner Rick Putnam, partner Grayson Derrick (Recruiting Committee Chair), partner Elizabeth Eynon-Kokrda, associate Jennifer Tricker, associate Isaiah Wilson II and Miriam Nelson (Director of Human Resources).