Administered by The Diversity Lab, the Mansfield Rule sets benchmarks for law firms to increase the number of diverse attorneys recruited for leadership positions and participating in client pitches.
NEW YORK – Sept. 22, 2020 – Global law firm Greenberg Traurig, LLP has received its Mansfield Rule 3.0 Certification, a program administered by The Diversity Lab and designed to boost diversity and inclusion within law firms and legal departments. The Mansfield Rule sets forth several goals, including that at least 30% of a law firm’s candidate pool for any leadership or governance positions, including partnership promotions, will be comprised of diverse talent, including women, minorities, LGBTQ+, and/or persons with disabilities.
“Since our inception, and before diversity programs were ‘buzzworthy’ or demanded by clients, we believed in and set out to create a diverse and inclusive firm. Diversity is in our DNA, and that is why we are proud to have been recognized with the Mansfield Rule 3.0 Certification. This recognition is particularly timely as we continue to expand our Diversity & Inclusion initiatives including the launch of our Social, Racial, and Economic Justice Action Plan. This plan features our commitment of $5 million over five years to help combat systemic racism and support impoverished communities. GT understands that equality and equity work hand in hand; it is this combination that allows us to produce the quality counsel we provide to our clients,” said Brian L. Duffy, CEO of Greenberg Traurig.
Modeled after the National Football League’s Rooney Rule, a policy to increase the number of minority coaches, the Mansfield Rule started at the 2016 Women in Law Hackathon with the goal of increasing the number of women in the candidate pool for leadership positions and client pitches. Named after Arabella Mansfield, the first woman to practice law in the United States 150 years ago, the rule has expanded to incorporate all diverse attorneys.
“From the firm’s founding, we’ve believed that diverse viewpoints produce smarter ideas for clients. Diversity and inclusion have always been important to us at GT. It is the core of why our founders opened this firm,” said Nikki Lewis Simon, Chief Diversity Officer and Shareholder of Greenberg Traurig. “This certification acknowledges our continued effort and goal of creating a more diverse and inclusive legal industry. We are very proud of this certification and will continue to help drive the change needed to foster an environment where diversity and equity thrive.”
The elements and operations of the Mansfield Rule are grounded in behavioural science research. The 30% requirement is considered the critical mass necessary to disrupt biases, according to researchers.
About Greenberg Traurig’s Diversity Initiative: From its inception, Greenberg Traurig has been committed to diversity and inclusion in the workplace. Greenberg Traurig is a uniquely empowering and diverse firm built on a foundation of fairness, equality, and authenticity. Through its Social, Racial, and Economic Justice Action Plan, the firm has committed $5 million over five years to help combat systemic racism and support impoverished communities. In addition, the firm’s efforts have been recognized through its Mansfield Rule 3.0 Certification, administered by The Diversity Lab, and by local, national, and global publications and organizations including Chambers and Partners. Web: https://www.gtlaw.com/en/general/our-firm/diversity Twitter: @GT_Drives
About Greenberg Traurig, LLP: Greenberg Traurig, LLP (GT) has approximately 2200 attorneys in 40 locations in the United States, Latin America, Europe, Asia, and the Middle East. GT has been recognized for its philanthropic giving, diversity, and innovation, and is consistently among the largest firms in the U.S. on the Law360 400 and among the Top 20 on the Am Law Global 100. Web: www.gtlaw.com Twitter: @GT_Law.