Morrison & Foerster Earns Mansfield Certification Plus Status For The Second Consecutive Year

SAN FRANCISCO, Sept. 3, 2019 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- Morrison & Foerster, a leading global law firm, is pleased to announce that for the second year in a row the firm has achieved "Mansfield Certification Plus" as a result of successfully reaching at least 30 percent women, minority, and LGBTQ+ lawyer representation in a notable number of current leadership roles and committees. The Mansfield Certification is administered by Diversity Lab, an incubator for innovative ideas and solutions that boost diversity and inclusion in law.

"I am proud that Morrison & Foerster was an early adopter of the Mansfield Rule and that we continue to achieve the highest level of certification that Diversity Lab offers in the program," said Larren M. Nashelsky, Chair of Morrison & Foerster. "Diversity and inclusion have long been core values of our firm and we are pleased to have created a model for others to follow."

MoFo was one of 44 of the country's leading law firms that joined Diversity Lab's pilot program of the Mansfield Rule from mid-2017 to mid-2018. The Mansfield Rule was named after Arabella Mansfield, the first woman admitted to practice law in the United States, and is a modified version of the NFL's "Rooney Rule," requiring all NFL teams to interview at least one minority candidate for head coach positions. The Mansfield Certification initially measured whether law firms had affirmatively considered at least 30 percent women and lawyers of color for leadership and governance roles, equity partner promotions, and senior lateral positions.

In the inaugural year of the program MoFo achieved Mansfield Certification Plus status, indicating that not only had the firm exceeded the candidate pipeline consideration requirements to participate in the program, but had also successfully reached at least 30 percent women and minority lawyer representation in a notable number of leadership roles and committees.

Version 2.0 of the program, which ran from mid-2018 to mid-2019, saw an increase to 65 participating firms and expanded the rule to include LGBTQ+ lawyers for candidate consideration and leadership positions in addition to women and lawyers of color. MoFo again exceeded the pipeline consideration and current leadership position requirements to achieve 2.0 Certification Plus. The firm will also participate in Mansfield 3.0, which includes lawyers with disabilities in the populations considered.

ABOUT MOFO

Morrison & Foerster is a global firm of exceptional credentials. We collaborate across a global network of 17 offices located in key technology and financial centers in the United States, Asia, and Europe. Our clients include some of the largest financial institutions, investment banks, and Fortune 100, technology, and life sciences companies. We also represent investment funds and startup companies. Our lawyers are committed to achieving innovative and business-minded results for our clients, while preserving the differences that make us stronger. The firm also has a long history of commitment to the community through providing pro bono legal services, including litigating for civil rights and civil liberties, improving public education for children below the poverty line, advocating for veterans, promoting international human rights, winning asylum for the persecuted, and safeguarding the environment.

SOURCE Morrison & Foerster