Goldberg Kohn Achieves Midsize Mansfield Rule Certification Recognizing Diversity Efforts
Goldberg Kohn is pleased to announce that the firm has achieved the inaugural Midsize Mansfield Rule Certification, which recognizes law firms that demonstrate a commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion and which are making meaningful progress on diversifying law firm leadership. Goldberg Kohn is one of 26 firms certified under the inaugural Midsize Mansfield Rule.
Administered by legal equity organization Diversity Lab, the Mansfield Rule program measures law firms’ efforts to increase representation and inclusion of diverse lawyers. It is named for Arabella Mansfield, the first woman admitted to the practice of law in the United States – more than 150 years ago.
“Goldberg Kohn’s inclusion in the inaugural Midsize Mansfield Rule Certification reflects our firm’s ongoing efforts to create and sustain a diverse and inclusive environment in our recruitment, retention and promotion practices,” said Vanessa Bachtell, a Goldberg Kohn principal and Chair of the firm’s Diversity Committee. “We are proud of this recognition and will continue to strengthen our firm-wide diversity initiatives.”
Designed to expand on the early successes of the original Mansfield Rule for large law firms, the Midsize Mansfield Rule Certification measures whether law firms with between 25 and approximately 150 lawyers have affirmatively considered at least 30 percent women lawyers, underrepresented racial and ethnic lawyers, LGBTQ+ lawyers, and lawyers with disabilities for attorney positions, leadership and governance roles, equity partner promotions, and formal client pitch opportunities.
Beginning in September 2020, certified firms completed a rigorous 18-month collaboration with Diversity Lab to track, consider, measure and achieve diversity in leadership. While working to achieve these benchmarks, participating firms embedded internal transparency through the establishment of leadership role descriptions and clearly defined leadership appointments and/or election processes. Knowledge sharing is also an integral pillar of Mansfield Rule participation, and participating firms shared best practices and lessons learned with each other throughout the process.
Commitment to Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
Goldberg Kohn is committed to building a work environment that reflects the community’s diversity and a culture in which professionals of all backgrounds can achieve long-term success. Our efforts, including pursuing and maintaining Mansfield Certification among several others, both internal and external – fostering mentorship, networking and support, as well as supporting racial and social justice initiatives with our volunteer/pro bono efforts and dollars – are designed to make our workplace more diverse, more inclusive, more equitable, more effective, and a better reflection of the community we seek to serve.
This achievement was also publicized in Law360. Read the article here.
