Atlanta (October 2023) – Morris, Manning & Martin has yet again earned a national certification proving its commitment to workplace diversity. The firm has earned the distinction of being named a Mansfield 6.0 firm. The certification, awarded by Diversity Lab, measures the structural changes and steps taken over the past year to ensure that the paths to leadership – including lateral hiring, client pitch teams, promotions, appointments, and more – are open and transparent to all qualified lawyers.
“Certification is a rigorous process,” said MMM’s Diversity Initiative Chair Dan Huynh. “Earning the 6.0 designation means MMM actively works to consider and include attorneys who are historically under-represented for leadership opportunities. MMM has achieved certification each year that the designation was available.”
The Mansfield Rule is named for Arabella Mansfield, America’s first female lawyer. Certification requires that at least 30% of under-represented attorneys be considered when appointing, electing or hiring firm leaders, equity partners, senior-level laterals and others. Under-represented talent can include women, members of racial and ethnic groups, attorneys who are LGBTQ+ or have disabilities.
In addition to seeking opportunities for diverse attorneys, MMM also prides itself on increasing benefits to recruit and retain talent. For example, its new parental leave policy lets attorneys and staff take 20 weeks of paid leave with the option of an extra four weeks of unpaid leave for a total of six months. The firm also hosts monthly gatherings so that expectant and new parents can share their experiences and important information.
“The enhanced parental leave policy together with having a culture that is highly encouraging of the utilization of parental leave is critical to attracting and keeping skilled attorneys,” said Catherine Morgen, who chairs the firm’s Women’s Initiative. “We are committed to shaping policies and practices that truly reflect the needs and experiences of our attorneys in all facets of their lives, both personally and professionally, and promote their success for the long term.”
The Diversity and Women’s Initiatives are part of MMMPact, the firm’s corporate social responsibility outreach.
Diversity Lab is an incubator for innovative ideas and solutions that boost diversity and inclusion in law. Law firms piloting the Mansfield Rule since its inception have grown the racial and ethnic diversity of their top leadership, including diversifying their Management Committees by more than 30 times the rate of non-Mansfield firms. For more information, visit www.diversitylab.com.
About Morris, Manning & Martin, LLP
Morris, Manning & Martin (www.mmmlaw.com) is an Am Law 200 law firm with national and international reach. We dedicate ourselves to the constant pursuit of our clients’ success. To provide our clients with optimal value, we combine market-leading legal services with a total understanding of their needs to maximize effectiveness, efficiency and opportunity. MMM enjoys national prominence for its real estate, corporate, litigation, technology, healthcare, intellectual property, capital markets, environmental, international trade, and insurance practices. A Mansfield 6.0 certified firm, MMM has offices in Atlanta, Raleigh-Durham, Savannah and Washington, D.C.
Media Contact for MMM: Terri Thornton, (404) 932-4347, Terri@TerriThornton.com
