An Honest Perspective on Diversity at Work
“People often confuse diversity with political correctness. To me, diversity includes fair and honest communication, not just saying what you think you should say,” Archer Norris partner Trajan Perez notes.
Perez, whose diverse litigation focus includes environmental cases, complex trials and product liability claims, is a strong proponent of the value of diversity. His own background of experiences is a contemporary picture of multiplicity and enriching variety.
Diverse Work Opens a Broad View
Values of gender and cultural equality are in Perez’s roots. Included in his Texas-based Latino family is his aunt, an attorney for whom he served as a paralegal. Other work experiences he gathered on his way to becoming a lawyer include dishwasher, retail manger, restaurant manager and car mechanic.
He credits his hands-on, public-facing work experiences with expanding his understanding of people from all walks of life. Says Perez, “Law is not practiced in a vacuum. Relationships go beyond the law.”
New Places, New Opportunities
Perez is enthusiastic about the power of travel and visiting other places and people to expand horizons. For his post-graduate studies, he relocated to Syracuse University in upstate New York, where he earned both his MPA and JD degrees. After law school, he was employed by an AmLaw 200 Washington DC firm.
After quickly moving up the chain of authority to being the manager of a high-profile, medical product liability class action, Perez left DC to work as an Associate with a Kansas City based law firm, which allowed him to continue to work in pharmaceutical class action defense. While working in Orange County California, Perez began developing his knowledge of environmental litigation and eventually left the firm to join Archer Norris in order to provide more personal service to his clients. In his opinion, one of the big benefits of diversity is being able to make wise choices about what you want to do and how to live life and Archer Norris’s culture melded with Perez’s choices.
Diversity, the Law and Clients
As part of his commitment to furthering diversity, Perez contributes to Archer Norris diversity initiatives as well as those throughout the legal profession. He has served on the New York State Bar Association Committee on Minorities in the Profession.
Perez believes that one of the most valuable contributions he makes in the area of diversity is as a voice of honesty and candor. He won’t shy away from what needs to be said. “My approach to diversity is similar to how I approach clients. I am a straight shooter and welcome a challenge, which are qualities I hope my clients appreciate too.”