Pride Month Spotlight Series: Richard Minott

As part of our Pride Month celebration, we’ve asked our colleagues to reflect on the significance of this month.

Cleary Gottlieb associate Richard Minott shares some of his thoughts below.

Tell us a bit about yourself and your role at Cleary.

My name is Richard Minott; I am a fourth-year associate in the restructuring and bankruptcy group. I joined Cleary as an attorney in 2021, but previously worked at the firm from 2014 to 2017 as the Alumni Relations Coordinator.

What does Pride Month mean to you?

Pride Month for me is about celebration and recognition. It’s amazing to think about and celebrate the progress we have made as a society toward achieving equal rights for members of the LGBTQ+ community, but there is also always a profound recognition that progress, until it is truly entrenched, can be fickle. So, while I fully enjoy the fun and revelry of Pride, I find it equally important to both honor the work that has been done to get us here and recognize the work that needs to be done to get us to a place where LGBTQ+ can be loud and proud anywhere in the world.

Has your identity impacted how you approach your work and career? If so, how?

I find that any form of identity affiliation, including being LGBTQ, affords you the ability to feel some form of affinity with another person who identifies in ways similar to you. I remember when I first started at Cleary, my first close friend was another Black gay man who approached me at Wine and Cheese and struck up a conversation. Immediately, we felt connected with each other and it formed the foundation of a lifelong friendship. In my work, it is often the ability to connect with people on a deeper level, rather than purely transaction, that has allowed me to build genuine connections.

When you’re underrepresented in your chosen field, why is it important to have mentors and sponsors who are invested in you and your career?

Mentors and sponsors often serve as a safety net and advocate for underrepresented people. This is even more so the case if you are fortunate to have a mentor who share common identities and/or characteristics as you. My mentors have helped tremendously in advocating for me behind closed doors, introducing me to new opportunities and connections, and alerting me to blind spots. While it can be easier to connect with someone who looks or shares a similar trait as you, I have found it beneficial to build relationships in and out of my affinity affiliations.

What are the benefits of joining groups that focus on LGTBQ+’s topics and issues?

Creating space where people can focus on a unifying topic is important because it allows people to feel comfortable and safe. Often times when “diverse” people are lumped together, it has the unintended consequence of drowning out certain voices and issues; therefore, it is crucial to create space where people who share a distinct commonality can speak freely and find support.

Are there any programs at Cleary that you have been part of that have contributed to your professional journey and feeling included at the firm?

Since joining the firm, I have been an active member in the Black Affinity Group, the Latinx Affinity Group, and the LGBTQ Affinity Group, which has allowed me to build many friendships at the firm. I am also a member of the New York Diversity Advisory Committee, which gives me a front seat and voice on diversity issues at the firm. I find these roles and spaces important to make sure that diverse associates are being adequately supported and developed by the firm.

What is your favorite thing about working in the legal industry, and why did you choose to work at Cleary?

I am a staunch believer that you can do interesting and cutting-edge work at many firms, but what really makes an experience fulfilling and rewarding are the people you get to do it with. Since day one, almost 10 years ago, I have been able to feel fully embraced by Cleary and develop a community of camaraderie and mentorship. I think it is critically important to be somewhere where you can be authentically yourself, where you feel supported by those around you, and where you are emboldened to advocate for yourself. Cleary has been that place for me.