Hanson Bridgett LLP, Hinckley Allen, Roetzel & Andress Participate in the Mansfield Rule Certification Program

Hanson Bridgett LLP

Hanson Bridgett LLP in San Francisco announces its participation in the Mansfield Rule 5.0 certification process. The firm signed on in 2020 for the Diversity Lab’s Mansfield Rule diversity in law leadership initiative. After diligently approaching the Mansfield Rule’s 4.0 certification for the first time this past year, the firm will continue its participation in the Mansfield Rule 5.0 certification process this upcoming year, which includes newly raised standards that must be met.

Hanson Bridgett has long considered diversity and inclusion as a core value of the firm and has remained dedicated to establishing a workforce that reflects the needs and interests of its clients, attorneys, staff, and community members. Since embarking on the firm-wide project in 2020, the firm has set up systems, established a position for a full-time chief diversity equity and inclusion officer, held mandatory bias and anti-racism trainings, and identified ways to incorporate diversity, equity, and inclusion standards in its hiring and retention goals and policies and promoting these essential social values in the legal community and beyond.

Hinckley Allen

Hinckley Allen in Connecticut will be adopting the Mansfield Rule for mid-sized law firms. The Mansfield Rule, which is named after Arabella Mansfield (the first female lawyer in the United States) measures whether law firms have affirmatively considered historically under-represented candidates – women, attorneys of color, LGBTQ+ attorneys, and attorneys with disabilities – for recruiting, leadership and governance roles, equity partner promotions, and inclusion in formal pitches to clients. The goal of the Mansfield Rule is to increase the representation of diverse lawyers in law firm leadership by broadening the pool of candidates considered for these roles and opportunities. In 2021, more than 160 law firms, including many in the AmLaw 200, will be participating in the Mansfield Rule program. Hinckley Allen’s 18-month certification program runs from September 15, 2021, to March 14, 2023. For more information about the Mansfield Rule Certification program, please visit the Diversity Lab’s website.

Roetzel & Andress

Roetzel & Andress is participating in Diversity Lab’s Mansfield Rule 5.0 Certification process as part of the firm’s ongoing commitment to Diversity and Inclusion. Roetzel is one of 160 large law firms in the United States and Canada participating in the Mansfield Rule 5.0 Certification Process.

“Diversity and inclusion are critically important to our organizational success,” said Roetzel Chairman Bob Blackham. “A diverse and inclusive team will not only make us a stronger firm, but it will help us create real change in our quest for inclusivity. We are proud to seek Mansfield Rule Certification and we firmly believe Roetzel should reflect the diverse communities we serve.”
Diversity Lab works with participating firms to measure their outcomes annually and, based on those outcomes, redefines the Mansfield Rule program to ensure that the goal of diversifying firm leadership progresses as inclusively and impactfully as possible.