The environment is top of mind for Beveridge & Diamond — both the practice area and an internal work culture that promotes diversity. “For many other firms, environmental law may be one of eight, 10 or 12 practice areas. For us, it's everything,” managing partner Ben Wilson said.

The firm has more than four decades of environmental expertise, Wilson said. Beveridge teams advise companies in more than 20 sectors, including biotechnology and electronics, from offices that include Austin; Baltimore; New York; San Francisco; Washington; Wellesley, Massachusetts; and Englewood, New Jersey.

Among partners, 28 percent are female and 7 percent minorities or lesbian, gay, transgender or bisexual persons. Total lawyers are 34 percent female and 14 percent minorities or LGBT. That diversity helps the firm advise U.S. clients in China and Latin America, for example.