Ballard Spahr's Virginia Essandoh Named Diversity Chair of Philadelphia Bar Association

Ballard Spahr Chief Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Officer Virginia G. Essandoh has been named diversity chair of the Philadelphia Bar Association, an 8,500-member organization with a strong focus on equal justice, social responsibility, and community service.

Virginia was nominated for the position by incoming Bar Chancellor Katayun Jaffari and confirmed by the Association’s Board of Governors at its meeting yesterday. Under the Association’s organizational structure, Virginia serves on the Board of Governors and as a member of Chancellor Jaffari’s cabinet.

Virginia will work on diversity, equity, and inclusion strategy and implementation in collaboration with the Association’s Office of Diversity, the Board of Governors, and other stakeholders, including the leaders and members of the Association’s sections, divisions, committees, and task forces. The diversity chair position encompasses external outreach and collaboration, as well, in keeping with the mission of “encouraging diversity within our community and beyond.”  

“I’m grateful to Chancellor Jaffari for this opportunity,” Virginia said. “I’m eager to work with Kathy, as well as the Bar’s Office of Diversity, to get all the stakeholders in the room to strategize, create priorities, and develop programing for an evolving world—programs that make a difference. These efforts are more important today than ever.”

Virginia has been working to advance diversity, equity, and inclusion in the legal profession for more than two decades, including more than 15 years leading Ballard Spahr’s nationally acclaimed efforts. Under her leadership, Ballard Spahr has instituted groundbreaking firm-wide initiatives across recruitment, retention, and advancement of diverse attorneys. The firm has won frequent awards and accolades for its work to build diverse talent, a culture of inclusion, and an environment of equity within the firm and in the legal profession more broadly. A former management consultant, Virginia has a law degree from the University of Illinois Chicago School of Law.

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