After naming Katten  a top Illinois law firm for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) inclusiveness and equality, Equality Illinois further celebrated the firm as one of the top 40 leading the way during its annual "Raising the Bar" breakfast. According to Windy City Times, this year's keynote speaker was the Honorable Staci M. Yandle, who is the first openly gay judge to be appointed to the US District Court for the Seventh Circuit. Judge Yandle praised the top 40 firms, stating, "Without question, your commitment to providing a welcoming, fair and inclusive workplace to LGBT employees contributes greatly to the cause of equality." Equality Illinois surveyed "more than 200 firms, of all sizes, doing business in the state of Illinois" and "scored the firms based on how welcoming and equitable their policies are to LGBT employees." ("Equality Illinois hosts 'Raising the Bar' with Yandle keynote," July 31, 2016)