Balch & Bingham is pleased to announce that Irving Jones, partner in the firm’s Birmingham office and member of the Litigation Practice, has been named a leader in diversity by The Birmingham Business Journal (BBJ) in its 2023 Diversity & Inclusion Awards.
The awards “celebrate leaders for their remarkable work in promoting practices that advance diversity, equity and inclusion in the workplace and throughout the community,” according to the BBJ.
Irving is a valuable member of the firm’s Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Council, and a member of the Litigation Section’s Diversity Lateral Recruiting Task Force.
“Irving’s commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion is unwavering,” said Brandi Russell, Chief Diversity & Inclusion Officer and Director of Talent Management at Balch. “He takes an active approach to recruiting and mentoring, and serves as a positive example for all associates, especially associates from backgrounds historically underrepresented in the legal profession. It is no surprise that he has earned the respect of his peers in the profession and the Birmingham community for his servant leadership.”
One of Irving’s passions is serving Balch’s Susan B. Livingston Boot Camp for Success, a pipeline program focused on equipping incoming law school students from groups historically underrepresented in the legal profession with the tools needed to succeed in law school and in their career. Irving chaired the Boot Camp for two consecutive years.
Irving’s commitment to diversifying Birmingham’s economy is evident within the business community through his leadership with Balch Business Boost, the firm’s program to support entrepreneurs of color and/or women-owned businesses and start-ups by providing free or low-cost legal services. Irving serves as one of the program’s coordinators in the Birmingham office.
In 2022, Irving became the firm’s inaugural participant for the Leadership Council on Legal Diversity’s (LCLD) Pathfinder Program. The program helps provide diverse, high-potential, early career lawyers at LCLD member organizations with practical tools for relationship building, foundational leadership skills, and career development strategies.
Irving focuses on internal investigations for regulated industries and litigating products liability, casualty, and medical malpractice matters. He represents corporate and utility clients across the southeast in both federal and state courts. Before practicing law, Irving was a counterintelligence agent for the National Security Agency where he conducted polygraph examinations and investigations.
Irving’s dedication to his practice has gained him respect across the profession. He is listed in The Best Lawyers in America®, Ones to Watch; a Mid-South Super Lawyers, Rising Star and was recognized by the Birmingham Business Journal as a Rising Star of Law.
