Taft Law has earned Mansfield Certification Plus status, as announced by business incubator Diversity Lab on Sept. 15.

Taft was one of 102 law firms to participate in the most recent Mansfield Rule Certification process, which rigorously measured whether law firms affirmatively considered at least 30% women, racial and ethnic minorities, LGBTQ+ lawyers, and lawyers with disabilities for leadership and governance roles, equity partner promotions, formal client pitch opportunities, and senior lateral positions, as documented from July 2019-July 2020.

Taft is proud to belong to a select group of firms to achieve Mansfield Certification Plus status. Firms earning this enhanced status not only met or exceeded the pipeline consideration requirements for Mansfield certification, but also actually have at least 30% diverse lawyer representation in significant leadership roles and committees.

Robert J. Hicks, Taft chairman and managing partner, noted that “As evidenced by the composition and effectiveness of our leadership teams, Taft is highly focused on diversity and inclusion at all levels and has been, and continues to be, deeply committed to advancing persons of color, women, and other diverse attorneys. Diversity and inclusion are not just words to us. In every way, they are a complete mindset that is now a fundamental part of the firm’s DNA and an intangible hallmark and fabric of who we are as an organization.”

In fact, Taft’s 2020 leadership team has the following composition of women, team members of color, and other diverse leaders:

• 56% of its executive committee;
• 50% of its compensation committee;
• 40% of its office partners-in-charge;
• 33% of its practice group leaders;
• 91% of its C-level officer positions.

In 2018, Taft adopted a one-class partnership structure and initiated industry-leading practices to promote work-life balance, including 16 weeks of paid maternity/paternity leave for attorneys and staff. Taft focuses on internal cross-office collaboration to broaden the exposure of diverse lawyers providing solutions on client matters. Taft is intentionally driving dialog to create an environment of belonging.

“Taft has an ongoing commitment to being the employer of choice in each of our markets,” stated Adrian D. Thompson, Taft’s chief diversity officer. “We embrace, value, and celebrate the many different ideas, viewpoints, and experiences that each of our team members contribute to make us stronger, both as individuals and as the go-to law firm in each of our markets. We believe our focus on inclusion will better serve our clients, help retain our talented team members, and attract and add diverse top talent to our growing team.”

About the Mansfield Rule and Diversity Lab

The Mansfield Rule honors Arabella Mansfield, who, in 1869, became the first woman admitted to the practice of law in the United States. The rule was inspired by the NFL’s Rooney Rule, which requires at least one woman and one underrepresented minority to be considered in the slate of candidates for either every open position or every open senior position.

Diversity Lab is an incubator for innovative ideas and solutions that boost diversity and inclusion in law. Experimental ideas are created through 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 the ideas, measure the results, and share the lessons learned. For more information, visit here.