Former managing partner honored with OWBA diversity award

Bricker & Eckler’s former Managing Partner Kurt Tunnell was recently recognized by the Ohio Women’s Bar Association (OWBA) for his advocacy of diversity and inclusion in the legal field. The “Diversity & Inclusion Sponsor Award” celebrates the exceptional efforts of individuals and organizations promoting the full and equal participation of diverse attorneys at all levels of the legal profession, with a particular focus on women, including women of color. The award is presented to one legal professional each year.

In his tenure with Bricker & Eckler, which included nearly eight years as managing partner, Kurt was a passionate advocate for and leader of diversity and inclusion initiatives. He was an active member of the national Leadership Council on Legal Diversity and has participated in recruiting other Columbus-based members of LCLD. He also led the Columbus Bar Association Managing Partner Diversity Initiative, which was recognized as one of Columbus Business First's 2016 "Outstanding Diversity Resource of the Year" and with the 2015 American Bar Association Partnership Award. Within the firm and throughout the legal community, Kurt has championed programs and training on implicit bias and the development of effective pipeline and mentoring initiatives.

As part of his award acceptance, several colleagues congratulated Kurt in a video to honor his legacy.