Asking Important Questions on Diversity—David Farhat of Skadden

What kinds of changes have you seen in diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts, and how are you engaging with those efforts?

After heavy criticism following the killing of George Floyd by police and the events thereafter, corporate America entered the conversation on DEI in a more focused way. Firms increased the visibility of DEI efforts, hired more in-house DEI teams, and increased DEI programming.

While these efforts have been impactful, the pace of meaningful institutional change recalls James Baldwin’s lament: “How much time do you want for your progress?” Tax remains very much a white, male, heterosexual space. DEI conversations have advanced, but progress has been slow, and firms still rely on traditional methods of developing talent. In a field that’s generally considered a meritocracy, increased visibility of DEI programming without real change or impact can send a disastrous message both to and about diverse candidates.

Tax practices need to ask: Have we evaluated and adjusted our recruiting to ensure we get diverse candidates? Do we have an environment where diverse candidates can thrive? Are we equitably preparing diverse candidates for advancement? Is DEI a firm-wide effort, or are we leaving it to diverse members of the group?

On an individual level, leaders should mentor or sponsor at least one person who doesn’t look like them. This micro-level activity can address many of the macro issues faced in the practice.

This article does not necessarily reflect the opinion of The Bureau of National Affairs, Inc., the publisher of Bloomberg Law and Bloomberg Tax, or its owners. 

Author Information

David Farhat is a tax partner based in the Washington, D.C., office of Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP, focusing on all phases of international tax planning and dispute resolution. He has extensive experience resolving contentious and complex transfer pricing disputes and has built relationships with tax authorities in the U.S. and internationally.