Worldwide: Diversity, Equity & Inclusion

The ICC International Court of Arbitration has reached a historic milestone with its 30,000th case registration in 2025, while simultaneously introducing groundbreaking rule changes that eliminate mandatory terms of reference for the first time in over a century. What do these developments mean for the future of international arbitration, and how are gender diversity initiatives reshaping the composition of arbitral tribunals?

A divided Eleventh Circuit panel has affirmed a preliminary injunction blocking Florida's Stop WOKE Act from restricting classroom instruction at public universities, finding the law's viewpoint-based limitations likely violate the First Amendment. The court rejected Florida's argument that professors' classroom speech constitutes government speech subject to unrestricted state control, instead emphasizing the special constitutional status of academic freedom and open inquiry in higher education. While the

The Iowa Supreme Court's landmark decision in In re Ezra L. Totton Scholarship addresses whether universities can modify race-based donor-restricted scholarships in response to changing legal landscapes following Students for Fair Admissions v. Harvard. The case examines the tension between institutional risk management and honoring donor intent when scholarship criteria include protected characteristics like race or gender. This ruling establishes important precedent for how educational institutions must b

We highlighted in a previous alert that employers should expect continued and intensified federal scrutiny of workplace diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) programs and initiatives.

The EEOC has rescinded its longstanding guidance on voluntary affirmative action plans under Title VII, eliminating the safe harbor defense for employers and signaling heightened scrutiny of workplace diversity initiatives. This policy shift raises critical questions about the future of affirmative action in employment and how companies can navigate compliance amid evolving legal standards and increased federal enforcement focus.

The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission voted on June 30 to rescind its approximately 40-year-old interpretive guidance, Affirmative Action Appropriate Under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 as Amended.

The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission has unveiled its National Enforcement Plan for fiscal years 2025-2029, marking a dramatic shift in priorities under the Trump administration.

The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission has released its National Enforcement Plan for Fiscal Years 2025-2029, signaling a dramatic shift in enforcement priorities under Chair Andrea Lucas.

The EEOC has replaced its Strategic Enforcement Plan with a new National Enforcement Plan that fundamentally shifts the agency's enforcement philosophy and priorities.