Hinshaw Partner Daniel L. ("D.L.") Morriss Selected for Crain's Chicago Business Notable Leaders in DEI
Hinshaw & Culbertson LLP today announced that Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Partner Daniel L. ("D.L.") Morriss was selected by Crain's Chicago Business as among its 2023 Notable Leaders in DEI.
The award recognizes top Chicago area leaders for a powerful commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion, significant contributions to advancing equality within the workplace and the Chicago area, and involvement in professional and civic organizations.
Read D.L. Morriss' Notable Leaders in DEI profile.
As Hinshaw's DEI Partner, in addition to his practice as a commercial litigator, Morriss manages the firm's cultural initiatives and affinity groups and leads the firmwide Diversity Committee. In this role, he oversees recruitment, retention, talent development, and advancement of diverse attorneys and supports networking and leadership opportunities. Morriss had a strategic role in Hinshaw's Diversity Lab's Mansfield 5.0 certification achievement and is actively involved in the firm's participation in Mansfield Rule 6.0. He was a driving force behind growing the firm's diverse leadership from 44 percent to 50 percent.
Morriss has also been instrumental in significantly increasing Hinshaw's diversity in partnership and leadership positions. According to a recent Law360 Pulse Snapshot, minorities make up 15.7 percent of the firm's partnership; the firm ranks No. 7 nationwide among firms with 251-600 attorneys. The American Lawyer 2023 Diversity Scorecard ranked Hinshaw #47, a significant jump from the firm's 2022 ranking and a continued upward trend for the fourth consecutive year. Hinshaw has also obtained the Human Rights Campaign Corporate Equality Index 100 percent ranking for 13 consecutive years.
Since 2016, he has served on the executive board of The Joffrey Ballet and has been instrumental in helping grow the academy dance program for the broader community and supporting "Joffrey For All" public performances at Millenium Park. As Diversity Officer for the New York State Bar International Section, he spearheaded several programs, including presentations on "mindfulness DEI in London, comparative diversity initiatives in Madrid, a mental health seminar in New York, and private law firm consultation meetings Tokyo. He is also a 2016 Fellow of Leadership Greater Chicago and a past board member of its alumni association. Morriss was previously recognized in the 2018 Crain's Chicago Notable Minority Lawyers and 2021 Crain's Chicago Notable Black Leaders and Executives.