Dexter J. Pearce Shortlisted for Chambers 2022 Diversity & Inclusion ‘Future Leader’ Award

PORTLAND, Ore. - Stoel Rives LLP is pleased to announce that labor & employment associate Dexter J. Pearce has been shortlisted for the Chambers Diversity & Inclusion Awards: North America 2022 in the category "Future Leader." Winners will be announced at an event on June 9 at the Millennium Biltmore in Los Angeles.

The Chambers Diversity & Inclusion Awards, now in their eleventh year, spotlight role models and trailblazers in pro bono and corporate social responsibility, as well as in inclusion, and in 2021 added an environment and sustainability award.

Pearce's work promoting diversity and inclusion is wide and varied:

• He serves as vice-chair of Stoel Rives' DE&I Committee, the first and only associate ever chosen for the role, and co-founded the firm's active Associates of Color Affinity Group.
• He worked to revitalize the Oregon Chapter of the National Bar Association, the oldest and largest nationwide network of predominantly African American attorneys and judges, and has served as its president-elect and president and as an active Board member since 2019. His work has effectively advanced the chapter as a vital and strategically valuable ally to Black law students.
• His D&I work in the community includes participation in the launch and ongoing operation of Portland's Market Place Community Impact nonprofit, which focuses on serving Black and brown Portland residents who were forced out through gentrification, and service to Friends of the Children, a community-wide youth mentoring program serving economically disadvantaged children from K-12.

Pearce represents employers in matters involving labor and employment-related disputes, including wage and hour, ADA, and discrimination issues. He also assists employers in mitigating risks prior to litigation, frequently resolving complaints at the agency level and regularly conducting antidiscrimination and harassment trainings.

Pearce is a member of the National Black Lawyers Top 40 Under 40. He has been named to Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch in America in Labor and Employment Law - Management for 2021 and 2022. He received the Stoel Rives Andrew Guy Pro Bono Award in 2021 and 2019.

For more information on the Chambers Diversity & Inclusion Awards: North America 2022 or to register for the event, click here.