Montgomery McCracken Joins Midsize Mansfield Rule Certification

September 13, 2021

Categories : Diversity

Types : Press Releases

Montgomery McCracken is proud to announce that the firm is participating in the Midsize Mansfield Rule certification process, managed by Diversity Lab. The goal of the Mansfield Rule is to boost the representation of historically underrepresented lawyers in law firm leadership.

The Mansfield Rule has become the standard by which law firms track and measure that they have affirmatively considered at least 30 percent women, lawyers from underrepresented racial/ethnic groups, lawyers with disabilities, and LGBTQ+ lawyers for top leadership roles, senior-level lateral hiring, promotions into the equity partnership, and participation in client pitch meetings.

“Diversity and inclusion is, and has been, a primary focus of the firm,” said Alfred W. Zaher, Montgomery McCracken’s Chief Diversity & Inclusion Officer. “We are extremely proud to participate in the Midsize Mansfield Rule certification process and continue our commitment to diversity and inclusion.”

All firms that meet or exceed the required Mansfield Rule certification parameters – which are measured twice yearly through a data collection process and structured check-in meetings – are provided the opportunity to send their newly promoted underrepresented partners to client forums to meet and learn from hundreds of influential legal department leaders.

“We are excited to join the next cohort of the Midsize Mansfield Rule,” said Renee Nunley Smith, co-chair of Montgomery McCracken’s Diversity Committee. “We have worked hard to keep diversity and inclusion front of mind in every facet of the firm’s business operations in order to accomplish an inclusive environment. The certification will assist us in focusing our ongoing efforts to increase opportunities for our underrepresented lawyers.”

Participating in the Midsize Mansfield certification is the latest initiative from Montgomery McCracken to demonstrate its advocacy of diversity and inclusion efforts. Our Diversity Committee is tasked with raising awareness of diversity throughout the firm and the community. Within the Committee, our Employee Resource Groups (“ERGs”) create the space for our attorneys and staff to openly and safely discuss issues, build and maintain and equal and supportive work environment, and support members in their efforts to succeed. Our ERGs include LGBTQ, Persons of Color, Veterans and Individuals with Disabilities, and Women’s.

We are also proud to be a charter member of the Law Firm Antiracism Alliance (“LFAA”), a founding member of the Philadelphia Diversity Law Group, Inc. (“PDLG”), and to have received a perfect score of 100 percent on the 2021 Corporate Equality Index (“CEI”), the nation’s premier benchmarking survey and report on corporate policies and practices related to LGBTQ workplace equality.

About Diversity Lab

Diversity Lab is an incubator for innovative ideas and solutions that boost diversity and inclusion in law. Experimental ideas are created through our Hackathons and piloted in collaboration with more than 150 top law firms and legal departments across the country. Diversity Lab leverages data, behavioral science, design thinking, and technology to further develop and test new ideas and research, measure the results, and share the lessons learned. For more information, visit www.diversitylab.com

About Montgomery McCracken

Montgomery McCracken is a full-service law firm with offices in Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey and Delaware. The firm represents leading businesses, multinational corporations, nonprofit organizations and individuals across a wide range of industries in complex litigation matters, significant corporate transactions and challenging disputes. For more information about Montgomery McCracken or its practice areas, please visit us online at www.mmwr.com or on Twitter at @MMWR_Law.