Weldon H. Latham

The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission

Meeting of February 28, 2007, Washington D.C. to Launch E-Race Initiative

Areas of Practice

Corporate Diversity Counseling, Employment Law, Corporate Law, Government Relations and Government Contracts

Representative Experience

Serves as Chair of the Corporate Diversity Counseling Group

Represents a wide range of Fortune 500 companies, minority and women-owned businesses, and quasi-governmental agencies in legal matters involving crisis management and diversity representation, complex employment audits, disputes and investigations involving allegations of race or sex discrimination and harassment, as well as business counsel and advice regarding corporate and financial transactions.

Advises and counsels a number of Fortune 200 CEOs whose companies are confronted with highly publicized charges of race and gender discrimination from prominent plaintiff attorneys and/or civil rights groups, as well as related disputes with federal regulatory agencies (e.g. EEOC, Department of Labor – OFCCP, local human rights agencies).

Directs confidential corporate diversity compliance reviews, audits, litigation or legal vulnerability assessments and determinations; develops specific recommendations whether and how to proceed with litigation and related community and public relations strategies.

Assists clients in developing “best practice” diversity initiatives and comprehensive diversity action plans, ranging from executive management and workforce diversity to minority business procurement/supplier diversity, diversity-related government/ community relations, and targeted philanthropic efforts.

Representative Clients

Fortune 200 CEOs and companies, quasi-government agencies and significant minority businesses.

Publications and Presentations

Columnist for Diversity Journal and Minority Business Entrepreneur as well as frequent commentator in DiversityInc, Washington Post, and has discussed diversity issues on ABC News “Nightline,” CNBC “Power Lunch,” Bloomberg Business News, and Court TV

“Supplier Diversity Is Good for Business,” Minorities and Women in Business magazine, January 2006

“When Bad Things Happen to Good Companies,” Diversity Journal magazine, September/October 2005

“Presidential Plans,” Exclusive Interview with Senator John F. Kerry, MBE Minority Business Entrepreneur magazine, September 2004

“Successful Employment Diversity Strategies,” Annual Davis Wright Tremaine Employment Law Seminar, October 2004

“Downsizing the Workforce Without Downsizing Diversity,” Profiles in Diversity Journal, September/October 2003

“Women and the Workforce,” Profiles in Diversity Journal, November/December 2003

“The Importance of Having an Effective Corporate Diversity Program,” Profiles in Diversity Journal, November/December 2003

“The Brains Behind Diversity Crisis Management,” Leadership Profile, Diversity Inc. Magazine, August/September 2003

“Affirmative Reaction?” University of Michigan – Supreme court Case, Profiles in Diversity Journal, July/August 2003

“Weldon H. Latham Makes Business Case for Diversity,” Interview, Bloomberg News

“Corporate Diversity Lawyer, Weldon H. Latham Interviewed regarding Jayson Blair New York Times Incident and Effect on Diversity,” Interview, Bloomberg Radio

Memberships and Activities

• Chair, Deloitte & Touche Diversity Advisory Board and Member, Women's Initiative Council
• Member, Diversity Best Practices Council 
• Chair, Legal Committee, Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority 
• Lifetime Member, National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP)
• Lifetime Membership, National Urban League
• Member, American Employment Law Council
• Member, Economic Club of Washington
• Board, Congressional Black Caucus Foundation Corporate Advisory Council
• Founding Member, National Coalition of Minority Businesses
• Former Board, Washington Trustees, Federal City Council
• Former Expert Advisor, Federal Communications Commission Diversity Advisory Committee
• Former Board of Visitors, Georgetown University Law Center 
• Former Board of Governors, Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies 
• Former Small Business Administration National Advisory Council, Clinton and George W. Bush Administrations
• Former Civilian Aide to Secretary of the Army, Clinton Administration
• Former Member, Department of Defense Advisory Committee on Procurement and
  Technical Data Rights, first Bush Administration
• Former Acting Assistant Secretary/General Deputy Assistant Secretary, Department of Housing and Urban Development, Carter Administration
• Former Assistant General Counsel, Executive Office of the President, Office of Management and Budget, White House Ford Administration
• Former Captain, Honors Program, Office of Secretary, General Counsel's Office, Department of Air Force

Education

• Executive Business Program, Amos Tuck School, Dartmouth College
• J.D., Georgetown University Law Center
• B.A., Business Administration, Howard University

Legal Instruction

Adjunct Professor of Law, Georgetown University Law Center

• Seminar, “Corporate Diversity Counseling”

Former Guest Professor, University of Virginia Law School

• Seminar, “Government, Politics and the Law”

Former Adjunct Professor, Howard University School of Law

• Courses: Government Regulation of Business; Agency and Partnerships; and Jurisprudence

This page was last modified on April 11, 2007.