Overview
International law firm McDermott Will & Emery has achieved Mansfield Certification Plus for 2023 in recognition of its commitment to diversifying leadership. The Firm’s London office has achieved Mansfield UK 2.0 Certification for the first time.
“We’re pleased to be recognized, once again, for our Firm-wide commitment to justice, diversity, equity and inclusion,” said Anthony Upshaw, global head of JDEI. “The Mansfield UK 2.0 Certification is a reflection of our global efforts to continue amplifying traditionally marginalized voices and driving both tangible opportunities and change across our Firm and the larger legal community.”
Since Diversity Lab first launched the certification in 2018, the Mansfield criteria have increased in breadth and depth to ensure continual progress. The 2023 process required law firms to consider at least 30% “historically underrepresented” lawyers (women, racially or ethnically diverse lawyers, LGBTQ+ lawyers or lawyers with disabilities) when appointing to leadership roles and promoting into the equity partnership, among a dozen other activities that focus on the path to leadership. The Mansfield Rule 6.0 Certification process also required firms to consider 30% “underrepresented talent” for C-suite roles.
McDermott has participated in the Mansfield Rule program since its inception in 2018 and there is more than 240 participants for the 2023 class.
Hamid Yunis, managing partner of the Firm’s London office, said, “We are proud to be McDermott’s first non-US location to apply for and achieve Mansfield certification. In line with our #AlwaysBetter mantra, we see this not just as an achievement, but as a statement of intent and an opportunity to continue our steady progress toward equity.”
To learn more about the Mansfield certification process, visit Diversity Lab’s website. Read Diversity Lab’s press release here.
About McDermott
McDermott Will & Emery partners with leaders around the world to fuel missions, knock down barriers and shape markets. Our team works seamlessly across practices and industries to deliver highly effective solutions that propel success. More than 1,400 lawyers strong, we bring our personal passion and legal prowess to bear in every matter for our clients and the people they serve.
