#CovHasPride Spotlight Series: Catherine Dargan

Catherine Dargan has advised an array of companies on their important strategic transactions for over 20 years. Catherine co-leads Covington’s Mergers & Acquisitions practice and is a member of the firm's Management Committee.

As a member of Covington's Management Committee and an ally of the LGBT+ community, how do you see the firm supporting its LGBT+ lawyers?

We believe diversity is a source of great strength at Covington, and we view all dimensions of diversity, including sexual orientation and gender identity, as key to our firm culture.

One important way that Covington supports our LGBT+ lawyers is through the firm's LGBT+ Affinity Group, which provides mentoring, learning, and development opportunities for our LGBT+ lawyers and allies. We also participate in programs designed to provide leadership opportunities to LGBT+ lawyers, including Out Leadership.

The firm also supports the LGBT+ community through impactful pro bono work. For example, Covington represented a coalition of same-sex marriage supporters in the defense of equality legislation in DC and, more recently, has been a leader in challenging the federal government's attempt to prohibit transgender military members from serving. Our pro bono work is very much aligned with Covington’s long standing commitment to the LGBT+ community. In 1994, we became the first major Washington law firm to offer domestic partner health insurance benefits to our lawyers and staff.

As a member of Covington's Management Committee, and a longtime LGBT+ ally, I am proud of the firm's commitment to inclusion, and its support of the LGBT+ community in particular.