A&O hires Dennis Quinio as Chief Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Officer for the Americas

Dennis’s breadth of expertise in executing firm-wide DE&I initiatives includes collaborating closely with leadership to build inclusive and equitable policies and practices to support the recruitment, retention, development, and promotion of diverse lawyers, while working with all of the firm’s constituencies to drive engagement and enthusiasm for DE&I throughout the organization. Prior to joining Milbank in 2019, Dennis served as Senior Diversity & Inclusion Specialist at Proskauer Rose. Dennis graduated from Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law in 2008 and worked as an attorney for nearly a decade at Hogan Lovells. He is admitted to practice in New York and received his bachelor’s degree from Harvard University.

One of five Regional DE&I Partners responsible for driving strategy in their regions, Elizabeth Leckie, regional DE&I partner for the Americas, noted that, “The firm’s creation of the CDO (Americas) role recognizes and deepens our commitment to ensuring that A&O is a place for all of our people to work and excel as their authentic selves. Dennis and I will work hand-in-hand to build upon the success we’ve achieved in the U.S., and together we’ll work with the other regional partners and DE&I professionals throughout the firm to drive our global strategy both internally and externally, engaging not just all of our people across the firm but also with clients and others from the communities in which we operate.”

U.S. senior partner Tim House said, “We are thrilled to have Dennis Quinio join the A&O Americas team in a role of utmost importance to our firm. Dennis brings a unique perspective as an attorney and DE&I subject-matter expert promoting inclusion, equity, and access in the legal field, and we look forward to his leadership as he drives this forward at A&O.”

Dennis commented, “I am excited to be a part of one of the world’s top international law firms, especially one demonstrating a clear commitment to embedding DE&I across its business and culture during a time of such tremendous growth in the U.S. The fact that this role reports directly to the U.S. senior and managing partners, reflects how achieving DE&I goals is a top priority for A&O. I’m honored to have the opportunity to lead A&O’s DE&I strategy in the Americas and, by extension, to bring that to our impressive client base.”

Alyssa James will join Dennis at A&O as DE&I coordinator. Alyssa worked closely with Dennis at Milbank and brings her experience of executing various DE&I programs involving professional development, pipeline recruiting, affinity groups, mentoring and coaching.

Embracing difference through diversity, equity, and inclusion is one of the firm’s stated strategic priorities. A&O has a long-standing history of being at the forefront of DE&I initiatives at a global level. The firm has received Mansfield Certification Plus for the last two years, is rated as a “Best Place To Work” by Human Rights Campaign Foundation’s Corporate Equality Index, and recently received the Asian American Bar Association of New York’s “Law Firm of the Year Award”. Globally, A&O has received numerous awards including the Ethnicity Awards 2021, Women in Law Awards for Gender Diversity Project of the Year, Stonewall Top Global Employer for multiple years and the Stonewall Global Ally Program Award for A&Out, which promotes the visibility of the firm’s LGBTQ+ role models across its international network.

A&O has grown tremendously in the U.S., adding 50 partners since 2019. Dennis and Alyssa’s arrival marks a significant milestone in the firm’s U.S. growth.