Some view Cravath, Wachtell Lipton, and Sullivan & Cromwell as the Holy Trinity of high-powered Biglaw firms. Though such esteem is not necessarily a measure of profitability, firm age (Wachtell is actually quite young), or even prestigious (Skadden edges out S&C in the most recent Vault rankings).

Yet, while all are renowned for their prestige, profits, and professionalism, these 3 firms aren’t generally known for the diversity of their partnership ranks. But AboveTheLaw has reported, both Cravath and Wachtell made progress on this front in their most recent partner classes. Cravath’s newest partner class consisted of 3 women, while Wachtell’s was made up of 2 women and an openly gay man.

Alas, Sullivan & Cromwell didn’t keep up with this pair of peer firms, at least not this year. From upset sources at S&C:

• “All white men elected partners at S&C.”
• “Five new partners at S&C. All white men. Management saying they can’t find qualified women. New York litigation particularly bad….”

The lack of diversity in this new partner class is disappointing. Even Cleary Gottlieb - whose managing partner told us makes “no excuses” regarding diversity, and “must do better” -  had one woman in its partner class of 8.

That said, the new partners are an impressive group. They might lack racial, ethnic, or gender diversity, but they do cover a wide range of practice areas - General Practice (S&C-speak for Corporate), Antitrust, and Litigation (one general commercial litigator, and one appellate and Supreme Court litigator). And they boast geographic diversity: two from D.C., one from New York, one from London, and one from Sydney.

[Click link to get the details.]