Ogletree Deakins Signs on to Mansfield Rule 5.0

ATLANTA – June 30, 2021 – Ogletree Deakins, one of the largest labor and employment law firms representing management, is pleased to announce that the firm is participating in the Mansfield Rule 5.0 Certification process, administered by Diversity Lab, launching July 15, 2021. Ogletree Deakins is one of more than 160 large law firms in the United States and Canada partaking in the process. The goal of the Mansfield Rule is to boost the representation of historically underrepresented lawyers in law firm leadership.

Now entering its fifth year, 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 and 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 of gender, diversity of race, and diversity of background—all these and more contribute to a vibrant and inclusive environment where attorneys and professional staff can thrive,” said Matt Keen, managing shareholder of Ogletree Deakins. “We are pleased to participate in the Mansfield Rule 5.0 to further this commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion at Ogletree and in the legal field.”

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 with an opportunity to send their newly promoted underrepresented partners to Client Forums to meet and learn from hundreds of influential legal department leaders.

Participating in the Mansfield Rule 5.0 Certification process is the latest endeavor from Ogletree Deakins to demonstrate its representation and advocacy of historically underrepresented lawyers. Ogletree Deakins has for many years created, developed, and hosted a number of programs, including its Raise the Bar Mentorship program, which is aimed at diverse senior-level associates and counsel. The firm’s Impact Sponsorship Program pairs diverse associates with high-performing shareholders who help the associates hone their business development skills and develop pipelines of high-value work. Additionally, the Ogletree Deakins Women’s Initiative (ODWIN) Sponsorship Program provides tools and opportunities for women shareholders to help them advance to equity shareholder status. Paired with equity shareholders, the participants gain support, exposure, business development opportunities, and career guidance. On average, more than 65 percent of each class is promoted to equity shareholder after participating in the program.

Finally, Ogletree Deakins hosts firm-wide events to celebrate cultural heritages, foster inclusive conversations with our colleagues and clients, and raise awareness of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) topics. Ogletree Deakins reinforced its commitment to racial, social, and economic justice through the formation of a firm-wide equal justice taskforce for the firm’s employees to work together toward eradicating racial inequities in the U.S. Ogletree Deakins ACT (Act, Change, and Transform) takes concrete actions aimed at improving racial justice in the legal profession and beyond. ODACT’s efforts focus on voter education and access, criminal justice reform and pro bono work, local office initiatives and client collaboration, and the firm’s internal policies and processes. Unique among this is where the firm provides up to 50 creditable hours for timekeepers to participate in and lead approved DEI activities.

Ogletree Deakins’ efforts have led to numerous DEI accolades including, being named to the “Best Law Firms for Women” list by Working Mother/Seramount, earning the Gold Standard Certification from the Women in Law Empowerment Forum (WILEF), and receiving a perfect score on the Human Rights Campaign’s Corporate Equality Index.

About Ogletree Deakins
Ogletree Deakins is one of the largest labor and employment law firms representing management in all types of employment-related legal matters. Premier client service, as outlined in the firm’s Client Pledge, is one of the firm’s top priorities and a cornerstone of its core values. U.S. News – Best Lawyers^® “Best Law Firms” has named Ogletree Deakins a “Law Firm of the Year” for 10 consecutive years. In 2021, the publication named Ogletree Deakins its “Law Firm of the Year” in the Litigation – Labor & Employment category. Ogletree Deakins has more than 900 attorneys located in 53 offices across the United States and in Europe, Canada, and Mexico. The firm represents a diverse range of clients, from small businesses to Fortune 50 companies. www.ogletree.com