Holland & Hart is one of 30 leading law firms partnering with Diversity Lab to pilot the Mansfield Rule, one of the winning initiatives from last year’s Women in Hackathon Shark Tank-style pitch competition. Partner Chris Groll was a member of the Hackathon’s winning SMARTIES team that won the $25,000 prize, donated to Ms. JD. In addition to piloting the Mansfield Rule, Holland & Hart is also working with Diversity Lab to implement the ground-breaking SMART system, focused on solutions to measure, advance, and reward talent.
“Our firm has been at the forefront of programs and policies that promote women to partnership and leadership roles for many years,” said Liz Sharrer, Chair of Holland & Hart. “By participating in the Mansfield Rule initiative, we underscore our commitment to continue diversifying our firm – and the legal profession – at the highest levels.”
Named after Arabella Mansfield, the first woman admitted to the practice of law in the United States, The Mansfield Rule measures whether law firms have affirmatively considered women and attorneys of color – at least 30 percent of the candidate pool – for leadership and governance roles, equity partner promotions, and lateral positions. Firms that successfully pilot the Mansfield Rule over the next year will be designated “Mansfield Certified” and have the opportunity to send their recently promoted diverse partners to a two-day Client Forum to build relationships and learn from influential in-house counsel of more than 45 corporations throughout the country.
Compass Minerals International, Inc. is one of the companies that has signed on to participate in the Client Forum. Diana Toman, Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary of Compass Minerals International says, “We are proud to further our commitment to diversity by participating in the Mansfield Rule Client Forum. We appreciate that our legal services partner, Holland & Hart, is one of the trailblazing firms devoting resources and management support to pilot the Mansfield Rule to help increase diversity in the top ranks of the legal profession.”
For more information about the Mansfield Rule, see Diversity Lab’s press release.