40 Firms Launch Minority Program

More than 40 corporations joined forces Monday to launch the California Minority Counsel Program, designed to increase opportunities for ethnic minority attorneys in corporate legal work.

At news conferences in Los Angeles and San Francisco, William Bogaard, general counsel of First Interstate Bancorp, and Guy Rounsaville, chief counsel of Wells Fargo Bank, outlined steps corporations will take to forge a “long-term working partnership” among corporate counsel and minority- and majority-owned law firms throughout the state.

“First Interstate is extremely proud to be a part of this effort,” Bogaard said. “It is our hope that all California corporations will join us in helping to assure that equal professional opportunity becomes a reality.”

Participating corporations, which also include BankAmerica Corp., CBS and Sears, have agreed to increase the number of minority law firms they retain as outside counsel for legal work. About 70 minority-owned firms have agreed to participate in the program.