Supporting a diverse and inclusive community

Cassels’ Black-owned small business grant program is a “passion project” that benefits not only the funding recipients but also the lawyers involved and the law firm as a whole.

Bethany McKoy, a lawyer and director of professional resources for the firm’s Toronto associate program, co-chairs its Black affinity group and grant oversight committee. She says that for many at Cassels, including herself, “it’s very much a labour of love.”

The unique grant program assists Black-owned or operated businesses that disproportionately face systemic inequalities to foster a business environment that is more fair, equitable and inclusive. It does this by providing funds to the recipient businesses and matching the grant amount with an equal allocation in pro bono legal services.

“We’ve provided our grant recipients with advocacy support, corporate advice, and intellectual property advice,” McKoy says.

“We really try to work with any of the departments we have and any services we can offer to provide them with the excellent service we do our clients.”

Since its founding in 2020, the grant program has provided more than $530,000 to support an inclusive and diverse entrepreneurial community.

The six latest recipients were announced in November. They are Kenesha Lewis of One More Cocoa, a Toronto-based artisanal chocolate company; Bukky Wonda of Shirah, a software as a service (SaaS) company that uses predictive algorithms and natural language processing to simplify the Canadian immigration process; Gladys Afolayan of Creative Mindz, which addresses inclusivity and diversity through its beauty services and training; Judith Kasiama of Colour Trails, an organization that aims to get more BIPOC people involved in outdoor sports and recreation; Naa Sheka Riby-Williams of Naa Sheka Fashion, a Vancouver-based ethical fashion company that provides jobs and fair wages to Ghanaians; and Venesse Lewis of Niya’s Coily World, which promotes hair diversity through a children’s book and a Coily Hair Care Play Set.

McKoy says an added benefit of the program is how it helps lawyers within the firm. In her experience, they and other employees feel more engaged when their organization assists the communities they care about.

“They’re going to feel included,” she says. “They’re going to feel like the firm and its visions represent their own, and they do in this case.”

Associates also get additional legal training through exposure to the work.

“It’s an opportunity to get their hands dirty a little earlier than with some of those larger files,” McKoy says.

Investing in the business community can mean more future clients for the firm.

“Some of our grant recipients have become paying clients, so we’ve been able to invest in them and see them grow, and it comes full circle,” she says.

“As time passes and as these businesses grow, so does the potential for client service relationships. It is the manifestation of investing in your community.”

Cassels also sources products through the program. This year, for instance, three past grant recipients provided holiday gifts for associates.

As part of the application process, businesses are asked about their need for legal services and how they would use the funds.

Based on that, McKoy says the committee examines whether the law firm can support them in a way that will provide sustained business growth.

“For grant recipients I’ve worked with over the past few years, we see them use the funds to expand their product line or invest in research and development. Some of them use the funds to rent a physical space because they feel that’s the best way to connect with their potential customers.”

The program is funded by firm employees’ contributions and Wheaton Precious Metals’ support.

McKoy acknowledges that lawyers considering starting a similar program to assist equity-seeking groups at their law firms may have concerns.

“I think lawyers are trained to be risk averse, to have a fear of the unknown,” she says, adding they should get over those fears and “just do it.”

There’s an urgent need for these sorts of investments in the community, McKoy says, pointing to research on the importance of equity, diversity and inclusion, not just when looking at your workforce and how it can be most productive but also when looking at the larger communities that you serve.

“I think it’s time for firms to take the leap, be unafraid and see that the benefits far outweigh the potential risks,” she says.

“We can be positive proof of the success of ventures like this, and I hope it will inspire others to just do it.”