NYU School of Law names diversity center after DLA Piper’s chairman emeritus Roger Meltzer
New York University School of Law has renamed its Center for Diversity, Inclusion, and Belonging in honor of DLA Piper’s chairman emeritus and NYU alumni and law trustee, Roger Meltzer.
In recognition of Meltzer’s service and dedication to NYU and championing of diversity and inclusion, the center is now known as The Meltzer Center for Diversity, Inclusion, and Belonging.
Since its launch in 2016, the Center has made a significant impact as an educational hub on issues of diversity, inclusion, and belonging as the convenor of a speaker series that has included US Supreme Court justices, influential scholars and leading figures in law and media; as a resource for NYU Law students seeking to integrate diversity and inclusion research into their academic careers; and as a guide for major institutions grappling with diversity and inclusion issues.
“I am honored and humbled by this recognition,” Meltzer said. “The Center focuses on building frameworks that get well beyond a zero-sum game, while taking a more constructive approach to engage a broader range of people to include and, ultimately, find a place to belong.”
Before retiring in December 2021, Meltzer practiced corporate and securities law for more than 40 years, working with some of the top corporations, investment banking firms, commercial banks, and private equity and investment funds. During his tenure as DLA Piper’s global co-chair, he oversaw the firm’s expansion throughout the Americas and positioned it as a leader in advancing diversity and inclusion, partnering with NYU Law to conduct firmwide diversity workshops.
Meltzer was recognized as one of the Top 10 Legal Innovators of the Year by the Financial Times, a trailblazer by the National Law Journal, and a distinguished leader by the New York Law Journal. Under his leadership, DLA Piper was honored by the Financial Times as the top law firm for Innovation in the Business of Law: Diversity and Inclusion in 2019.
