Drinker Biddle Implements Mansfield Rule 2.0

Drinker Biddle & Reath LLP is proud to be a signatory to the Mansfield Rule 2.0, a groundbreaking program that aims to boost the representation of women, LGBTQ+ and minority lawyers in law firm hiring and leadership by broadening the pool of candidates. The rule requires that at least 30 percent of the candidate pool for promotions, senior-level hiring and significant leadership roles in the firm comprises diverse lawyers.

“We are pleased to support this excellent initiative that aligns with what we strive for at our own firm and in the profession as a whole,” said Andrew C. Kassner, Chairman and CEO of Drinker Biddle. “We stand alongside many of our clients in supporting the Mansfield Rule 2.0 and we look forward to implementing this framework within our ongoing diversity efforts.”

The Mansfield Rule was one of the winning ideas from the 2016 Women in Law Hackathon hosted by Diversity Lab in collaboration with Bloomberg Law and Stanford Law School. The initiative is named after Arabella Mansfield, the first woman admitted to the practice of law in the United States, and was inspired by the NFL’s revolutionary Rooney Rule.

“The research shows that a commitment to broadening diversity in the candidate pool works,” said Maria L.H. Lewis, Chair of the firm’s Diversity & Inclusion Committee. Jennifer R. Breuer and Lynne Anne Anderson, Co-chairs of the firm’s Women’s Leadership Committee, concurred: “We are energized by the prospect of helping to lead the firm in this initiative, which we know will garner more opportunities to promote and support diverse attorneys.”

Law firms that adhere to the requirements of the Mansfield Rule during the review period of July 2018–July 2019 will be designated “Mansfield Certified.”