Vorys Earns Mansfield 4.0 Certification
Vorys announced today that the firm has earned the Mansfield Rule 4.0 Certification. To become “Mansfield Certified,” participating firms are asked to affirmatively consider at least 30% historically underrepresented lawyers - including women, lawyers of color, LGBTQ+ lawyers, and lawyers with disabilities - when making decisions on leadership and governance positions (including firm management roles and certain committee roles), formal pitch opportunities, senior associate and lateral partner openings, and equity partnership promotions.
“We are a better, stronger firm, and more effective legal and business partners, when we recognize the value of diverse backgrounds, experiences and perspectives,” said Michael Martz, Vorys’ managing partner. “We are extremely proud of this certification. It serves as an indicator of our firm’s longstanding and ongoing commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion. However, just because we have earned Mansfield Certification does not mean we will rest on our DEI efforts.”
The primary goal of the Mansfield Rule is to increase diversity in law firm leadership by broadening the pool of lawyers who are considered for significant governance roles, lateral openings, and promotions. Vorys was one of 118 law firms piloting the Mansfield Rule 4.0 in July 2020.
Diversity Lab launched the inaugural Mansfield Rule in summer 2017 with nearly 50 law firms, the next iteration, Mansfield Rule 2.0 in July 2018 with 65 law firms, and the Mansfield Rule 3.0 iteration in July 2019 included 102 law firms. Mansfield 5.0, which was announced earlier this year, has more than 160 law firms, including Vorys, participating in the program.
To read Diversity Lab’s announcement about the Mansfield Rule 4.0 Certifications, click here.
About Vorys: Vorys was established in 1909 and currently has nearly 375 attorneys in eight offices in Ohio, Washington, D.C., Texas, Pennsylvania and California. Vorys currently ranks as one of the 200 largest law firms in the United States according to American Lawyer magazine. To learn more about Vorys’ diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts, click here.
About Diversity Lab: Diversity Lab is an incubator for innovative ideas and solutions that boost diversity and inclusion in law. Experimental ideas are created through Hackathons and piloted in collaboration with more than 150 top law firms and legal departments across the country. Diversity Lab leverages data, behavioral science, design thinking, and technology to further develop and test new ideas and research, measure the results, and share the lessons learned. For more information, visit www.diversitylab.com.