Danyale A. Price
Head of Diversity and Inclusion
Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP
New York, N.Y.
Eleven years ago, Danyale Price, head of diversity and inclusion at Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP, answered a call for diversity professionals. At that time, she says, there was a large recruitment of full-time diversity professionals at major law firms across the country to address a diversity call to action from general counsel of Fortune 500 companies. Joining Paul, Weiss proved the perfect fit for her background as a commercial litigation attorney and her aspirations to help people maximize their potential.
?At that time, there were very few lawyers who also had diversity and inclusion experience, so I was fortunate to be selected by Paul, Weiss in 2006 as their first D&I professional,? Price remarks. ?What?s been equally fulfilling is to be a part of such a young, developing industry within the legal sector. I have spent the past eleven years creating the firm?s diversity and inclusion strategy to attract, develop and promote a diverse workforce.?
Price, who graduated from the University of Virginia School of Law and is a magna cum laude graduate of Spelman College with a B.A. in economics, not only is thrilled with the kind of work she does, but also where she does that work. She takes great pride in the firm?s track record. ?From the early days, our pro bono work included Brown v. Board of Education to our work today with immigration reform, overturning the Defense of Marriage Act, and defending challenges to affirmative action. To be a part of an organization that truly believes its strength and competitive advantage comes from the diverse background of its lawyers makes my job fun, interesting and challenging,? she notes.
A past board member of the Association of Black Women Attorneys, Price insists that whatever the future holds, ?Being passionate about what I do is a must!?
