Fenwick & West

At Fenwick, we believe meaningful progress is driven by collaboration, curiosity and a willingness to learn from different perspectives. That is why we invest in creating a supportive and inclusive environment where people feel connected and able to grow throughout their careers. An inclusive culture yields stronger teams, innovative solutions and better outcomes for our clients.

Fenwick has spent more than 50 years helping innovators at the forefront of technology and life sciences build what is next. To do that, we need a team as agile as the innovators themselves.

Encouraging people to be their authentic selves fosters diversity of thought. When your perspective is valued, you are more willing to take those game-changing swings. When you are not wasting energy masking who you are, you can direct it toward stronger work and better outcomes.

Inclusion is not a standalone initiative at our firm. It is embedded in how we engage our people and approach our work. Our motto, “One Fenwick,” exemplifies who we are. We work in different locations and across different practices, while always showing up for one another in the same way we show up for our clients.

Employee Resource Groups as Leadership Platforms

Our Employee Resource Groups (ERGs) create opportunities for people across the firm to build community and identify priorities that shape the employee experience. Through collaboration with firm leadership and the Inclusion & Engagement Steering Board, employees gain opportunities to influence initiatives while developing leadership skills of their own.

Allowing community to flourish is an important complement to inclusion. No matter how inclusive a space is, something is missing when we are not around anyone who shares our lived experiences. ERGs are a critical pillar in helping our people feel comfortable and supported at every level.

Early Ownership, Real Impact

People are encouraged to contribute beyond the boundaries of their formal roles. Whether leading initiatives, identifying opportunities for improvement, or helping develop programs that affect the broader firm, colleagues at all levels are trusted to bring ideas forward and put them into practice.

"When your perspective is valued, you are more willing to take those game-changing swings."

Innovation in Action

When immigration policies shifted suddenly, Fenwick partnered with a client to mobilize attorneys and business professionals to support more than 120 families through multilingual legal clinics. Faced with a language barrier, members of the team developed a creative translation solution using existing technology, enabling services to be delivered at scale. The model proved so effective that the client adopted it in-house.

Doubling Down on Connection

As firms become increasingly distributed across locations and practices, we intentionally invest in maintaining strong connections.

Our annual Fengagement initiative brings colleagues together through shared activities and experiences that encourage learning, appreciation, community engagement and relationship-building. The program creates opportunities for people to connect with colleagues they may not otherwise encounter in their day-to-day work.

Those connections matter because they create pathways for collaboration and learning. The most valuable insights do not always come from formal programs, but from colleagues sharing knowledge, experiences and expertise with one another. 

Investing in Growth for What’s Next

Preparing people for the future begins with a commitment to continuous development.

At Fenwick, that investment starts early. Training and development programs such as Fenwick University support attorneys in building the relationships, skills and confidence needed to grow throughout their careers. Firm leadership plays an active role in these programs, reinforcing a culture of learning that extends well beyond onboarding and building future leaders through continual education on inclusion.

As technology continues to reshape professional services, we are equally focused on helping our people understand and engage with emerging tools in meaningful ways. Because Fenwick advises many of the companies driving technological innovation, our lawyers and business professionals often see transformational technologies develop in real time. 

Our approach to AI reflects that mindset. We view these technologies as tools that can enhance human judgment and deepen expertise, helping our people work more effectively. Building fluency in emerging technologies requires more than access to tools. It requires experimentation and a willingness to learn together. By creating opportunities for people to develop those capabilities, we help ensure they are prepared for the future of their profession, at Fenwick and beyond.

That commitment extends beyond skills development. Programs such as our Parental Reintegration Program reflect our belief that supporting long-term career growth requires investing in people through different stages of their careers and lives.

The organizations best positioned for the future are those that can attract talented people, help them thrive and empower them to contribute their best ideas. At Fenwick, inclusion and engagement are about creating the conditions that make that possible. By investing in connection and continuous growth, we strengthen our culture, support innovation and help our people deliver exceptional results for clients. That commitment has long been part of who we are and it will continue to shape how we move forward.