Our History of Commitment

Throughout its history, Jones Day has been a leader in thought and deed in its diversity efforts:

1948-Jones Day adopted an anti-nepotism rule, something largely unheard of at the time--hiring decisions would be made strictly on the basis of merit-not on who your father was.

1960-When women were barely visible in the nation’s law schools, Jones Day hired Naoma Stewart as an associate in our Cleveland Office.

1970-When female law school graduates still had difficulty getting jobs as lawyers, Jones Day elevated Naoma Stewart to the partnership.

Early 1980s-The Firm adopted a maternity leave policy that gave lawyers 12 weeks of paid leave, and an additional 12 weeks of unpaid leave.  During this same period, the Firm also began experimenting with different types of part-time arrangements.

1982-Owen Heggs became the first African American lawyer elevated to the Jones Day partnership and served on the Firm’s inaugural Diversity Task Force instituted in 1987.

1986- Jones Day began to establish offices in Europe and Asia.  Today, its offices in 16 countries on 4 continents are staffed predominantly by native lawyers, and the Firm has become one of the most geographically and ethnically diverse law firms in the world.

1987-Elwood Lui became Jones Day’s first Asian partner and the first minority lawyer to serve on the Firm’s Partnership Committee.

1989-Patricia Villareal became Jones Day’s first Hispanic Partner.

1989-1993-Jones Day is signatory to bar association Diversity Policy Statements in Chicago, Los Angeles, New York, and Washington, D.C.

1993-Sydney McDole became the first woman to serve on the Firm’s Advisory Committee and was appointed to lead the New Lawyers Group.

1994-Mary Ellen Powers became the Firmwide Administrative Partner, the first woman to hold that position.  Another woman partner, Lizanne Thomas, succeeded her in that role in 2003.

2000-Jones Day welcomed its 100th female partner.

2001-On January 1st Jones Day became one of the first firms to make Domestic Partner Benefits available to all lawyers and staff.

2002-Jones Day named its first female Partner-in-Charge of an office (Hong Kong). In early 2003, two more women were appointed as Partners-in-Charge of the Pittsburgh and Washington offices.

2003-Patricia Villareal became the first woman and Hispanic to be named Firmwide New Associates Hiring Partner.

2006-Patricia Villareal became the first woman and Hispanic appointed as Firmwide Practice Leader in Securities Litigation & SEC Enforcement.

2007-All U.S. offices have access to a corporate care provider for emergency child and elder care services.

2008-Five women lead domestic offices as Partners-in-Charge.

2009-The Firm’s 54 member Advisory Committee includes 14 women and five diverse lawyers.

2011-Women make up: 9 of the Firm's 34 office Partners-in-Charge; 7 Administrative Partners; and 1 Regional Partner-in-Charge.
Our Pioneers
Naoma Stewart
Naoma Stewart was Jones Day's first female partner. While raising her children, Naoma attended night school at Cleveland Marshall Law School. In 1960, she applied to Jones Day for a job as a law librarian, but the Firm hired her instead as an associate. Naoma joined the Firm's corporate law department in the fall of 1960. She recalls receiving calls shortly after she started at the Firm from both LIFE magazine and LOOK magazine who wanted to do stories about her because she was the first woman lawyer to be hired by a major firm; Naoma declined both requests as it was not in her nature to seek such attention. In 1970, Jones Day promoted Naoma to partner. Although Naoma retired in 1983, she attends Jones Day functions when possible, and was able to join the women partners at a reception in June 2006 honoring all new female partners.
 
Owen Heggs
Owen HeggsOwen Heggs was Jones Day's first African American partner. Born and raised in Cleveland, Ohio, Owen joined the litigation practice in the Cleveland office in 1979. Owen was elevated to partner in 1982 and remained with the Firm until his premature death in 1993. While with the Firm, Owen served as President and Chairman of the Urban League of Greater Cleveland. Owen was also a member of the Firm's original diversity task force, instituted in 1987.

 
   
 
 Elwood Lui
Elwood LuiElwood Lui, the Firm's first Asian partner, joined Jones Day as a partner in 1987, after twelve years on the California Bench, first on the LA Municipal Court (1975-1980, then the LA Superior Court (1980-1981) and finally as an Associate Justice on the California Court of Appeal, Second Appellate District, Division 3 (1981-1987). At Jones Day, Elwood has concentrated his practice in appeals and complex commercial litigation in federal and state courts. Elwood was the first partner in charge of the Firm's San Francisco Office and now splits his time between Los Angeles and San Francisco. 
 
 
 
Patricia Villareal
Patricia VillarealPatricia Villareal, Dallas Office Partner-in-Charge, is Jones Day's first Hispanic partner. Pat joined Jones Day as an associate out of law school after her clerkship in 1981. She became a partner in 1989. Today, Pat, who is resident in the Dallas office, co-chairs the Firm's Securities Litigation & SEC Enforcement Practice.