With more than a dozen years of experience advocating for, developing and leading diversity, equity, and inclusion (DE&I) initiatives in large, multinational law firms, Dennis drives forward A&O Shearman's DE&I strategy as Chief Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Officer in the Americas. Dennis’s breadth of expertise in executing firm-wide DE&I initiatives includes collaborating closely with leadership to build inclusive and equitable policies and practices to support the recruitment, retention, development, and promotion of underrepresented attorneys, while working with all of the firm’s constituencies to drive engagement and enthusiasm for DE&I throughout the organization.

Dennis’s experiences in the legal profession over the course of two decades informs his understanding of the importance of belonging, a concept he speaks on frequently, as one of the few or at times the only individual at the table with multiple intersecting identities. As an attorney, Dennis actively championed DE&I by starting and leading various affinity groups, chairing the associates’ committee, serving on firmwide diversity and recruitment committees, and mentoring countless associates, all while litigating on behalf of major international institutions in the technology, media, communications, life sciences, and hospitality sectors. Dennis also actively advocated for the marginalized through involvement in groundbreaking pro bono work on behalf of LGBTQ+ families and to increase access to inclusive and affirming health care for the transgender community.

Dennis transitioned his legal practice to full-time work on DE&I as a response to increasing political division and resulting polarization in the workplace, always seeking to highlight common ground and harmonize interests for the good of the whole organization. He also speaks on demystifying the concept of DE&I in the current landscape, highlighting its strategic value and critical importance in future-proofing organizations for tomorrow’s success.

Dennis is a graduate of the Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law, where he was a Dean’s Distinguished Scholar and an editor on the Cardozo Law Review. He also earned his Bachelor of Arts in English and American Language and Literature, cum laude, from Harvard University, and started his professional career in book publishing.