Lewis Rice Appoints Ronald A. Norwood to Chairman of the Firm Diversity and Inclusion Committee

Lewis Rice has appointed Ronald A. Norwood as Chairman of the Firm's Diversity and Inclusion Committee, and Bridget G. Hoy as Vice Chair.

"The Firm is pleased to announce the appointments of Ron and Bridget to serve as the leaders of this important function," said Thomas C. Erb, the Firm's Chairman. "Lewis Rice is committed to hiring and retaining talented and diverse attorneys to service our broad and diverse client base. We are proud that through our Diversity and Inclusion Committee, the Firm is redoubling its commitment to providing equal opportunity for all, regardless of race, gender, sexual orientation, religion, or national origin," said Erb.

Ron started at the Firm in 1985 as a summer associate and was then hired as an associate practicing in the Litigation Department in 1988, following his two years' service as a federal district court law clerk. In 1997, Ron was elevated to the position of member in 1997.

"I am honored and humbled to help lead Lewis Rice in its continued pursuit of diversity and inclusion within all ranks of the Firm," Ron said. "As my 25 years at the Firm clearly illustrate, Lewis Rice has a longstanding commitment to diversity and inclusion, and I am delighted to help continue promoting this core Firm value."

Ron's wide-ranging practice includes representing banks, insurance companies, product manufacturers, and school districts in a myriad of litigation matters throughout the country. He is an Adjunct Professor at Washington University in St. Louis, an arbitrator with the American Arbitration Association, and a member of the American Law Institute.

Ron's commitment to promoting diversity and inclusion is not limited to his role at the Firm. He proudly serves as a mentor to students from local law schools, high schools, and middle schools through participation in the College Bound Program, which provides promising students from under-resourced backgrounds with the academic enrichment, social supports, and life skills needed to succeed in college and careers. He also supports the YMCA and has ongoing interactions with various law school associations.

Bridget is also a member in the Litigation Department and represents individuals and companies in a wide variety of business disputes and intellectual property matters. Prior to joining Lewis Rice, Bridget served seven years in the U.S. Air Force and served two years as a federal law clerk.

"Being chosen to assist the Firm in continuing to fulfill its long-standing commitment to diversity and in maintaining equal opportunities for women attorneys within all levels of the Firm is incredibly meaningful. I personally benefited from the Firm's recognition of the unique demands that the practice of law places on working mothers, by my taking advantage of Lewis Rice's customizable reduced hours program. I now relish this opportunity to help other lawyers and our clients benefit from the Firm's hallmark diversity and inclusion policies and culture," said Bridget.

Bridget is a past board member of the Women Lawyers' Association of Greater St. Louis, is a past chair of the Professionalism and Ethics Committee of the Bar Association of Metropolitan St. Louis, volunteers with Legal Services of Eastern Missouri, and provides pro bono representation as part of a federal mediation program.

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Throughout the Firm's history, Lewis Rice attorneys have made excellence the foundation of their practice. Founded in 1909, more than a century of service has given them the experience, resources and tools to serve their clients' dynamic needs. The Firm's diverse team of more than 150 attorneys provides counsel and solutions for the challenges facing local, regional and national businesses, as well as individuals and families. Lewis Rice maintains offices in downtown St. Louis, suburban Town & Country, Washington and Jefferson City, Missouri and Edwardsville, Illinois. The firm also has offices in downtown Kansas City, Missouri and suburban Overland Park, Kansas.