Beveridge & Diamond is proud to announce that, for the third consecutive year, we have achieved Mansfield Rule Plus Certification, indicating that our firm considers women, LGBTQ+, minorities, and lawyers with disabilities for at least 30% of all significant leadership roles, lateral recruiting, and business development opportunities. The “Plus” status signifies that B&D exceeds the baseline certification requirements – not only considering but achieving 30% representation in firm leadership roles. B&D participated in the Mansfield Rule 4.0 program from July 2020 to July 2021. 

“We are very proud to have achieved Mansfield Plus certification for the third year in a row. This recognition reflects the work we have done to promote diversity, equity, and inclusion in our workplace and the broader legal profession,” said Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion (DE&I) Committee Chair Roy Prather (Baltimore). “Perhaps more importantly, it also reminds us of the work we have yet to do for a more equitable field. We look forward to continuing to lead and collaborate with our peers and clients on diversity, equity, and inclusion.”

“Diversity, equity, and inclusion are core values and business imperatives for Beveridge & Diamond. We remain committed to promoting equity and social justice both within the firm and beyond, and plan to continue to lead DE&I initiatives within the profession,” said Kathy Szmuszkovicz (Washington, DC), B&D's Firmwide Managing Principal. “Our participation in the Mansfield Rule initiative provides us valuable opportunities to learn, collaborate, and build even stronger programs to diversify our leadership and sustain a culture of inclusion.”

B&D’s participation in the Mansfield Rule program has allowed the firm to develop new processes and more thoroughly document and transparently report our progress on the Mansfield Rule categories. Among the results: diverse lawyers comprise 66% of our firmwide management committee, 53% of practice area leaders, and 48% of participants in new business proposals.

With respect to DE&I metrics more broadly: 34% of our principals are women (compared to a national average of 25%); 51% of our lawyers are diverse (includes women, minorities, and LGBTQ+ individuals); and 75% of the lawyers who joined the firm in 2020 were diverse.

B&D has already kicked off its participation in the Mansfield 5.0 initiative that began in July 2021.

The firm participates in a number of DE&I efforts in addition to the Mansfield Rule, and we have been recognized for our leadership by organizations such as the Minority Corporate Counsel Association, the Leadership Council on Legal Diversity, and the National Association of Women Lawyers. 

Learn more about our diversity and inclusion efforts and accomplishments.