Coca-Cola scrapped a policy that would have required outside law firms to involve Black lawyers and other diverse lawyers in their work for the company
A Coca-Cola spokesperson didn't immediately respond to questions about the letter.to policies by Meta, HP, Microsoft, and Novartis, which all require or encourage their outside law firms to diversify. Some big companies have said they will pay law firms more or cut their rates depending on how much of the work goes to Black, Hispanic, Asian, and women lawyers, for example.
But Coca-Cola's guidelines, which were circulated in January 2021, stood apart by including an explicit focus on Black lawyers. The rules would have required 30% of all time billed by partners and associates to go to women, racial or ethnic minorities, or disabled lawyers, and for half of that time to be billed by Black lawyers.
In her letter, Douglas said Coke is still"fully committed to advancing equity, diversity, and inclusion in the legal profession." But there were indicators that Coke took the threat of a lawsuit seriously, turning over records to Morenoff's group. A lawyer at the powerhouse corporate law firm Wachtell who advised Coke was copied on Douglas' letter.
Coke isn't the only company that has faced legal threats over efforts to empower people of color and other minorities in corporate America. A conservative law firm hit Uber with thousands of legal demands last year over an effort to steer business to Black restaurants. The cases could cost millions of dollars to handle.
Morenoff's group has also sent threatening letters to Starbucks, Novartis, and McDonald's over what the group claims are illegal race-based contracting requirements.Subscribe to push notifications
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