Seyfarth’s Gerald Pauling Named to Crain’s Chicago 2021 List of “Notable Black Leaders and Executives”

Gerald Pauling, member of Seyfarth’s Executive Committee and partner in the firm’s Labor & Employment department in Chicago, was recognized as one of the 2021 “Notable Black Leaders and Executives” by Crain’s Chicago Business. To qualify for the list, nominees demonstrated that they made a difference in contributing to the Black community in any number of ways.

These leaders worked for decades to reach prominent places in law, banking, media, and nonprofits and lift their communities. Many have taken on new roles leading new or expanded diversity initiatives as companies vow to improve their practices in recruiting, hiring, and retaining talent from diverse backgrounds. These leaders have redoubled efforts to boost the next generation through nonprofits that help young people succeed in school and prepare for a career.

In Pauling’s profile, Crain’s Chicago wrote:

Litigator and trial attorney Gerald Pauling is co-chair of the firm’s Diversity & Inclusion Action Team. Last year, he was elected to Seyfarth’s executive committee, becoming the first African American to serve in this capacity. Pauling was instrumental in the launch of the Belonging Project, a nationwide collaborative initiative developed by Seyfarth to combat the effects of the pandemic on attorneys of color. The project created a virtual hub through which industry organizations, law firms, and D&I professionals supported and delivered professional resources to students and attorneys from diverse backgrounds. Pauling is a trustee of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra and its Negaunee Music Institute, which delivers classical music to a variety of communities including underserved groups. And he’s president of the Homewood-Flossmoor High School board of education.

You can view the full list here.