Contact: Mark Fefer, Marketing Communications, 206.757.8583 or markfefer@dwt.com
SEPTEMBER 15, 2020 – In recognition of the firm's continued success in elevating underrepresented lawyers to positions of leadership, Davis Wright Tremaine LLP has achieved "Mansfield Certification Plus" from DiversityLab, a leading promoter of diversity and inclusion practices in the law.
Under the Mansfield Rule—named for the first woman admitted to practice law in the U.S.—firms pledge to insure that diverse lawyers will make up at least 30% of the candidate pool for recruitment, governance roles, equity partner promotions, and inclusion in formal pitches to clients.
"Diversity and inclusion have long been central to our recruiting and promotion practices, and last year we decided it was time to hold ourselves accountable by formalizing that commitment," said Jeff Gray, Davis Wright Tremaine's firmwide managing partner. "The 12-month Mansfield Certification process has resulted in improvement in our performance across the board. We're very pleased to see how this framework can help overcome persistent inequities in our profession and we're determined to continue building on that effort."
Over the course of the yearlong certification process, Davis Wright Tremaine achieved metrics that include the following:
- Increased by 60% the share of lateral partners hired who are from underrepresented groups (women, attorneys of color, LGBTQ+ attorneys, and attorneys with disabilities).
- Increased by 16% the share of lateral associates hired who are from underrepresented groups.
- In the firm's first pilot of pitch tracking, 72% of lawyers considered for participation in formal client pitches by one of our key strategic practices were from underrepresented groups.
In addition to its Mansfield Certification, Davis Wright Tremaine was also awarded "Plus" status by DiversityLab, indicating that the firm has reached at least 30% diverse lawyer representation in a significant number of current leadership roles. For example, the firm's highest decision-making body, the executive committee, has a membership that is 38% diverse.
"We are very mindful that inclusion is not about reaching numbers but about providing opportunities for true advancement and influence," said Gray. "We know that when we do that, our firm is stronger and we can further enhance the level of service we provide to our clients."
About Davis Wright Tremaine
Davis Wright Tremaine LLP is a national law firm with more than 550 lawyers representing clients based throughout the United States and around the world. For more information, visit www.dwt.com. For more information about the firm's diversity commitment, visit diversity.dwt.com.