Robert Charles Lawson, a partner in Williams Mullen’s Financial Services & Real Estate Practice, has been named chair of the firm’s Diversity and Inclusion Committee. He is based in the Raleigh, N.C. office.
The mission of the Diversity and Inclusion Committee is to further Williams Mullen’s corporate culture as one of inclusion – at every level and in every aspect of the firm. Under Robby’s leadership, the Committee will continue to seek innovative and meaningful ways to enhance diversity, equity and inclusion at the firm with an emphasis on recruiting, retention, mentoring, leadership development, training and community outreach.
“I am very pleased to take on the role of chair of the firm’s Diversity and Inclusion Committee and continue its mission of furthering true diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts for our firm,” said Robby.
Robby succeeds partner Allison Domson, who chaired the committee from 2015-2021. During her tenure as chair, the committee implemented a five-year strategic plan, and Williams Mullen received four consecutive perfect scores of 100 on the Corporate Equality Index, the nation’s premier benchmarking survey and report on corporate policies and practices related to LGBTQ workplace equality, administered by the Human Rights Campaign Foundation.
“Our Diversity and Inclusion Committee is essential to ensuring that the firm continues to make progress toward our goals,” said President and CEO Woody Fowler. “Robby is well suited to continue leading our efforts, and we’re looking forward to assisting him.”
The committee consists of both attorneys and professional staff and includes seven members of the firm’s board of directors. The committee hosts three affinity groups that actively support the professional development and success of diverse attorneys: the Attorneys of Color, the LGBT Initiative and the Women’s Initiative.
Robby earned his Juris Doctor from Wake Forest University School of Law and his Bachelor of Arts from the University of Virginia. He has been selected to Business North Carolina’s “Legal Elite” each year since 2011 and was named to the publication’s “Hall of Fame” as a part of the class of 2013. Robby is actively involved with the North Carolina Bar Association, as well as with the Greater Raleigh Chamber of Commerce. He is committed to enhancing the Raleigh community as he has served on the board of directors of the Downtown Raleigh Alliance since 2017.