Dianne R. Phillips, Esq.
Dianne R. Phillips is a partner in Holland & Knight’s Boston office where she co-chairs the office Diversity & Inclusion Initiative, a role she has held since for over a decade. She is also co-chair of the firmwide LGBT Affinity Group, a role she has held since its formal recognition in 2005. In her leadership roles at Holland & Knight she has championed and initiated many programs and policy changes within the firm including those which have led to Holland & Knight’s multi-year perfect score on the Human Rights Campaign’s Corporate Equality Index. In addition to her firm roles, until her retirement at the end of 2019, Dianne was a longtime board member of the Boston-based legal nonprofit GLBTQ Legal Advocates & Defenders, Inc. (GLAD) (previously known as Gay & Lesbian Advocates & Defenders). She served as GLAD Board President from 2012 – 2016 during which time she accompanied GLAD lawyers to the U.S. Supreme Court to observe argument in three LGBTQ civil rights cases including the California Prop 8 challenge, the DOMA challenge, and the 2015 case which brought marriage equality to the nation, argued by GLAD attorney Mary Bonauto. Also during her term, she chaired GLAD’s strategic visioning effort, known as Justice 2020. Dianne was recently awarded the Founders Award by the Massachusetts Federation for Children with Special Needs for her leadership pro bono work on behalf of limited English proficient (LEP) parents and guardians of students enrolled in the Holyoke, Massachusetts Public School System previously denied adequate translation and interpretation services in connection with their children’s public school education. Dianne’s commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion spans decades and she brings a wealth of experience to this work.