Launched in summer 2020, STB United for Justice is a comprehensive and purposeful long-term initiative to promote racial justice and combat racism in the U.S. through the collaborative efforts of Simpson Thacher personnel and external stakeholders. Its framework is comprised of five key pillars: community engagement; programming, training, and resources; pro bono; external collaborations; and financial support. Each of these pillars is reviewed and modified periodically to ensure the efficacy of our efforts and to address evolving needs over time.
Community Engagement
The Firm’s first step on the launch of the STB United for Justice was to engage our entire law firm community and host STB Forum: Our Stories, Our Strength. It was a town hall-like forum that was open to all colleagues across our U.S. offices. The goal of the Forum was to hear a sample of one another’s experiences within a safe space and allow attendees the ability to expand their understanding and appreciation for the diversity of stories and experiences in our community. This enabled our lawyers and staff to expand our perspectives and understanding on racial and cross-cultural experiences, as well as being more effective allies. Through our Forum, our stories raised our awareness, promoted empathy and strengthened our community.
Program, Training & Resources
An important aspect of STB United for Justice is to educate and raise our individual and collective awareness about racial justice and racism. To that end, the Committee hosts programs and speakers throughout the year, and shares resources with the entire Simpson community. Notable speakers include, Dr. Ibram X. Kendi, New York Times bestselling author and professor; John C. Yang, President and Executive Director or Asian Americans Advancing Justice; and Nikole Hannah-Jones, Pulitzer Prize author and creator of The 1619 Project.
In succession, the Firm conducted a CLE accredited series of “Allyship 101 and Allyship 201” trainings for all U.S. personnel over the course of the past two years. The goal was to create a common foundation among us, on which more nuanced discussions can be built in the future. This was achieved through interactive workshops that covered the fundamentals of antiracism and allyship, and how these principles apply in everyday situations at the Firm and beyond.
Pro Bono & External Collaborations
The Firm, in collaboration with a select group of law firms, officially supported the formation of the Law Firm Antiracism Alliance (LFAA) as a founding member. The purpose of the LFAA is to leverage the resources of the private bar to amplify the voices of communities and individuals oppressed by systematic racism, to better use the law as a vehicle for change that benefits communities of color and to combat structural racism in the law, legal profession and legal institutions. As a founding law firm, the Firm is pledging to become an active participant in meaningful and long-term pro bono efforts supporting antiracism initiatives.
The Firm is also a member of The Alliance for Asian American Justice, whose mission is to stand up for victims, and prevent future acts, of anti-Asian hate.
Financial Support
Through STB United for Justice, the Firm financially contributes to several organizations that are actively engaged in efforts to promote racial and/or social justice through focused initiatives across the U.S. Each organization was nominated by a member of the Simpson Thacher community. As of 2022, over 15 organizations have received funding from the Firm in locations across the U.S.
STBUFJ Committee
We also created a Committee that meets regularly to consider relevant programming, host speakers, consider partnerships and funding for organizations involved in the promotion of racial and social justice. The Committee is comprised of lawyers and professional staff from across all of our U.S. offices.