Pepper Hamilton LLP announced that the firm has achieved Mansfield Certification after completing the Diversity Lab’s Mansfield Rule 2.0 certification process. Pepper is one of only 64 law firms that completed the 12-month program to achieve certification.

Under the Mansfield Rule 2.0, law firms committed to affirmatively consider at least 30 percent women, lawyers of color and LGBTQ+ lawyers for leadership and governance roles, equity partner promotions, formal client pitch opportunities and senior lateral positions. The goal of the Mansfield Rule is to increase representation of diverse lawyers in law firm leadership by broadening the pool of candidates considered for those opportunities.

As part of Pepper Hamilton’s efforts to actively recruit and advance the hiring, development, inclusion and promotion of diverse lawyers, the firm signed on to the Mansfield Rule 2.0 in July 2018 and tracked its progress over the last year in the key areas identified by the Diversity Lab.

In the Diversity Lab’s press release announcing the results of the Mansfield Rule 2.0 certification process, Thomas J. Cole, Jr., Pepper’s Managing Partner, said, “The Mansfield Rule’s knowledge-sharing structure has been a key part of our success in establishing new processes and ultimately achieving certification at Pepper. We have appreciated the forum provided for our firm to share best practices,  problem-solve, and crowdsource effective solutions on the talent challenges that we are all facing.”

By achieving Mansfield Certification, Pepper Hamilton will have the opportunity to send newly promoted partners from underrepresented groups to the Diversity Lab’s client forums with senior in-house counsel from leading companies.

Pepper Hamilton also announced today that it will participate in the Mansfield Rule 3.0 pilot program. This program, which runs from July 2019 to July 2020, includes lawyers with disabilities as well as women, lawyers of color and LGBTQ+ lawyers as part of the diverse candidate pool.

Kassem Lucas, Pepper Hamilton’s Partner in Charge of Diversity, and Chief Talent Officer Margaret Suender led the firm’s efforts to achieve Mansfield Certification and will continue to spearhead the firm’s participation in the Mansfield Rule 3.0 program.