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Inclusion and Engagement

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Commitment to Our Values & Engagement

Harris Beach Murtha strives to cultivate an inclusive culture by respecting the contributions of all individuals, which empowers everyone and fosters innovative approaches that enhance the services we provide. Our mission is to excel as a leading law firm that reflects and builds upon the diverse perspectives of the clients and communities we serve. In everything we do, we are committed to exemplifying our shared values of Collaboration, Inclusion, Ingenuity, Respect, Integrity, Commitment.

Collaboration enhances creativity, improves opportunity recognition, creates better results for clients and is essential for success. We achieve exceptional results by fostering a culture of teamwork and professional growth across all offices, borders, industries and practice areas.
At Harris Beach Murtha, we deliver superior solutions to our clients by creating an inclusive and dynamic environment that combines our many individual strengths, varied perspectives and experiences to maximize the full potential of our team.
Harris Beach Murtha’s culture of creativity, innovation and adaptability encourages thought beyond conventional boundaries, leading to exceptional solutions and higher client satisfaction.
Treating colleagues, clients, and stakeholders with professionalism, kindness, empathy, and care is fundamental to our way of operating. Meaningful interactions foster stronger connections and an increased level of engagement between colleagues, clients and stakeholders.
Upholding honesty, transparency, and ethical behavior builds trust and promotes accountability, creating a solid foundation for sustainable partnerships with our clients and colleagues.
We demonstrate unwavering commitment to excellence through hard work, continuous improvement, and consistent follow-through. This dedication and responsiveness builds trust and reliability both within the firm and with our clients, ensuring that clients can depend on us to deliver consistent results.

Council Co-Chairs

Council Administrator

Our Story

Harris Beach PLLC, Attorneys at Law. Discover True Engagement. Empowered by our inclusion. Council on Inclusion and Diversity

2005

Diversity Council established under CEO James A. Spitz, Jr. and Partner Beth Ela Wilkens, Founding Chairs of the Diversity Council.
Inaugural Sponsors of Monroe County Bar Association & Rochester Black Bar Association Minority 1L Summer Associate Program (2005 – current).
Martin Luther King Jr speaking in Washington raising his hand to an audience of thousands with the Washington Monument in the background.

2006

Partnership with renowned diversity thought leader Roosevelt Thomas and the Roosevelt Thomas Consulting Group.
Diversity Council established roles, commitments, goals, and training.
Martin Luther King, Jr. Day observed as annual firm holiday.
Diversity Scholarship and Summer Program for 2L Law Students recipients in 2007.

2007

Diversity Scholarship established for college seniors entering law school and 2L law students.
Diversity Council developed and shared mission statement and business case.
Diversity Compliance Counseling Service launched to help organizations meet New York State’s Minority and/or Women-owned Business Enterprise requirements.
Diverse group of people having a discussion

2008

Diversity Training Launched Firmwide: “What is Diversity? Why is it important?” partnership with the Roosevelt Thomas Group.
Diverse group of people sitting in a meeting room with one woman standing giving a presentation.

2009

Diversity Council developed and rolled out New Hire Onboarding training.
Diversity Training Launched Firmwide: "Managing Conflict towards Positive Growth" presented by Rochester Business Alliance & CSL Consultants.
Mutual Adaptation: GenderFlexing printed cover.

2010

Diversity Council established “Rules of Engagement”.
Diversity Training Launched Firmwide: "Mutual Adaptation: GenderFlexing" presented by the Roosevelt Thomas Consulting & Training.
Partner Rosevelie Marquez Morales and Attorney Munesh Patel.

2011

Partner Rosevelie Marquez Morales and Attorney Munesh Patel appointed Co-Chairs of the Diversity Council.
Diversity Training Launched Firmwide: “Enhancing Understanding through DiSC® Workplace Profiles partnership with Unlimited Coaching.
Diversity at Harris Beach printed cover.

2012

Established partnerships with Albany Law School, University at Buffalo School of Law, Syracuse University College of Law, Rochester Black Bar Association, Cornell Law School, St. John’s University School of Law, Maurice A. Deane School of Law at Hofstra University providing externships and internships, networking, mentoring, resume writing, interviewing skills and educational programs (2012 – current).
Diversity Training Launched Firmwide: "Managing Generational Diversity” partnership with Future Works Institute.
"Diversity at Harris Beach” published.
2013 award winners.

2013

Co-sponsored The Rochester Black Bar Association’s Third Annual Bridges to Success Networking Event and presentation of their Bridge Builder Award to Justice Rose Sconiers of the New York Supreme Court, Appellate Division.
Attorneys and professional staff actively participate, support and hold leadership roles in various community and legal organizations, such as the Greater Rochester Association for Women Attorneys and the Finger Lakes chapters of the Women’s Bar Association of the State of New York, National Federation for Just Communities of Western New York, Defense Research Institute Diversity Committee, Rochester Black Bar Association, South Asian Bar Association of New York, Puerto Rican Bar Association, New York State Bar Association and the National Bar Association.
Elephant and two giraffes.

2014

Partner H. Todd Bullard helps clients with obtaining Minority and Women-owned Business Enterprise Certification allowing them to be a prime contractor for State procurements.
Diversity Training Launched Firmwide: “Embracing Diversity & Inclusion: Giraffe & Elephant” partnership with the Roosevelt Thomas Group.
Group of people sitting in a meeting with a woman talking.

2015

Partnership and establishment of HB Scholarship with the St. John’s Ronald H. Brown Prep Program (2015 – 2021).
Diversity Council name changed to Council on Inclusion and Diversity.
Pam Goldsmith

2016

Partner Pamela A. Goldsmith leads roundtable discussion in an invitation only New York State Assembly Roundtable on “Diversity in the Legal Profession” conducted by Assembly member Helene Weinstein (Chair, Assembly Standing Committee on Judiciary) and Assembly member Latoya Joyner (Chair, Assembly Subcommittee on Diversity in the Law).
Group reading of the book “Crucial Conversations: Tools for talking when stakes are high” with Council members and the leadership of the firm.
Diversity Training Launched Firmwide: “Generational Roundtable” partnership with the Roosevelt Thomas Group.
Harris Beach CEO Christopher D. Jagel sitting with Partner Wendy Kinsella.

2017

Christopher D. Jagel named CEO July 2017 and Member of the Council on Inclusion and Diversity.
Partner Wendy A. Kinsella named Chair of the Council on Inclusion and Diversity.
Sponsorship of Diversity CLE hosted by the Monroe County Bar Association - "Diversity, Inclusion and Retention: Promoting Equality within the Legal Profession."
Reflections on Inclusion and Diversity Our 2018 Milestones printed cover.

2018

Sponsorship of the Council on Legal Education Opportunity (CLEO)’s 50th Anniversary Greater Equality GALA.
Establishment of Diversity Scholarship at Maurice A. Deane School of Law at Hofstra University (2018 – 2022).
Attorneys present CLE program “How Diversity Yields Greater Returns from the Conference Room to the Courtroom”.
Diversity Training Launched Firmwide: “Generational Diversity” partnership with Millennial Solutions.
Harris Beach Attorney at University of Buffalo.

2019

Awarded Sponsor of the Year by University at Buffalo’s School of Law Students of Color.
Partner H. Todd Bullard recognized by Lawyers of Color as one of the nation’s best attorneys for his noteworthy accomplishments and commitment to diversity and inclusion in the legal profession.
Sponsorship of the 50th Puerto Rican Festival Anniversary Gala.
Diversity Training Launched Firmwide: “Introduction to Unconscious Bias” partnership with Future Works Institute.
Kim Swetland standing with Harris Beach attorneys

2020

CAO Kimberly A. Swetland named Co-Chair of the Council on Inclusion and Diversity.
CEO Christopher D. Jagel named a Leading Ally for Minority Attorneys.
Partnership with the Long Island Hispanic Bar Association Summer Associate program.
Council members and attorneys from the New York City office hosted The National African American Insurance Association Northeast chapter meeting and presented “Diversify Your Portfolio: How Diversity Yields Greater Returns in Litigation.”
Harris Beach Attorney Todd Bullard

2021

Partner H. Todd Bullard named Co-Chair of Harris Beach Council on Inclusion and Diversity.
Partner John T. McManus joins inaugural board of directors for Albany Law School’s Women’s Leadership Initiative.
Sponsorship of the Albany Law School’s Women’s Leadership Initiative (2021 – 2025).
"Diversity, Inclusion and Engagement at Harris Beach” published.
rounded graphic with the words Teamwork, integrity, inclusion, respect and ingenuity in the circle.

2022

Developed new tag line “Enhanced by our Inclusion” and rolled out updated strategic plan to reflect our ongoing commitment to fostering an inclusive and diverse workplace.
Flex days provided for individual observances.
Office Managing Partner Bob Murray, along with partners Melanie Marotto and others celebrate Resilience at the Urban League of Buffalo Annual Gala that supports the scholarship program and other programs, including foster care, senior centers, youth centers and crisis counseling at different locations.
Harris Beach recognized with the Law Firm Diversity Award at the Annual Rochester Business Journal and The Daily Record (Rochester, NY) Legal Excellence Awards.

2023

Awarded the Law Firm Diversity Award at the Annual Rochester Business Journal and The Daily Record (Rochester, NY) Legal Excellence Awards.
1L/2L Diversity Scholarship enhanced awarding 2 law students each with a $10,000 scholarship and summer associate position.
Partner and a Franklin Williams Commissioner, Tom Garry moderates Franklin H. Williams Commission Seminar on Diversity in New York Judiciary.
Introduced option for individuals to share their pronouns.
Cultivating Cultural Competence printed cover.

2024

Diversity Training Launched Firmwide: “Cultivating Cultural Competence” partnership with The Winters Group.
Harris Beach PLLC and Murtha Cullina LLP announced a planned combination for the creation of one firm.
Harris Beach Murtha Council on Inclusion and Engagement logo

2025

Following the combination of “Harris Beach Murtha", The Council on Inclusion and Engagement evolved to reflect its expanding role and remains committed to exemplifying our core values.

Inclusion and Engagement

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Content current as of September 5, 2026 5:14 am