Bilzin Sumberg Seeks Mansfield Certification, Solidifying Commitment to Diversity and Inclusivity
Miami, FL – Bilzin Sumberg is proud to announce that the firm is pursuing Mansfield Certification, with a goal of achieving certification in 2025. Developed by the Diversity Lab, Mansfield Certification is focused on broadening the talent pool for recruiting and facilitating transparent pathways to leadership for those historically underrepresented in the legal profession and in executive positions.
By participating in the certification process, Bilzin Sumberg commits to considering a broad pool of candidates for leadership and high-visibility positions. The firm also pledges transparency in internal governance, particularly with selection guidelines and job descriptions for management roles and committees. The firm will work closely with Diversity Lab to track and report its progress.
“Achieving Mansfield Certification would be the natural progression of many of the best practices that Bilzin Sumberg already embraces,” said Hiring Partner Melissa Pallett-Vasquez. "By tracking and sharing our progress with the wider legal community, we are doing our part to heighten awareness and move the legal industry in a positive direction.”
The achievement of Mansfield Certification would align with Bilzin Sumberg’s commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI), and mirrors the firm’s robust record of partnering with leading organizations and initiatives pushing the envelope on diversity, equity, and inclusion in the legal profession and beyond. These include Bloomberg Law’s DEI Framework, the Diversity & Flexibility Alliance, the Law Firm Antiracism Alliance, the Leadership Council on Legal Diversity, and the National Association for Law Placement’s Street Law Legal Diversity Pipeline Program, among others.
About the Mansfield Rule
The Mansfield Rule for law firms measures whether law firms have affirmatively considered at least 30% women, lawyers of color, LGBTQ+ lawyers, and lawyers with disabilities for leadership and governance roles, partner promotions, formal client pitch opportunities, and/or senior lateral positions. The Mansfield Rule is named after Arabella Mansfield, the first woman admitted to the practice of law in the United States. Based on research regarding diverse candidate pools, the Mansfield Rule requires 30% underrepresented candidates in professional selection pools, with a strong focus on the leadership pipeline, transparency, knowledge sharing, and accountability through the Certification process. It is believed that 30% diversity is necessary to disrupt internal bias.
About Bilzin Sumberg
At Bilzin Sumberg, we empower our clients to achieve extraordinary results through our expertise and creative solutions. Our dedication to providing practical and personalized attention spans a broad spectrum of practices, focusing on complex matters that require a high level of expertise and sophistication.
Guided by our guiding principles of integrity, trust, and empathy, we build strong, enduring relationships with our clients and partners. By leveraging relationships, we deliver tailored solutions that make a lasting impact. Our competencies include antitrust, trial and litigation, construction law, corporate and securities, environmental law, CMBS, restructuring and finance, government relations, joint ventures, private wealth planning, public-private partnerships, and real estate. For more information, please visit bilzin.com.
