Starnes Davis Florie LLP (Starnes) announced today that it has committed to Diversity Lab’s first ever Mansfield Rule certification process for mid-sized law firms. Inspired by the NFL’s “Rooney Rule,” the Mansfield Rule measures efforts in hiring, development, inclusion, and promotion of diverse lawyers. In particular, it measures whether law firms consider slates with 30% historically underrepresented lawyers in lawyer hiring, partner promotions, leadership positions, and formal client pitches and meetings. The goal of the Mansfield Rule is to boost the representation of diverse lawyers in law firm leadership by broadening the pool of candidates considered for these opportunities.
Starnes joins 22 other firms nationwide, but is the only firm in Birmingham, Mobile, or Nashville, in piloting the inaugural Midsize Mansfield Rule. “We’re very excited to be in the first group of mid-sized firms to participate in the Mansfield certification process,” said Managing Partner Jay Ezelle. “Starnes has had a longstanding commitment to diversity and inclusion. Participation in this process will meaningfully advance our efforts and help us to continue diversifying our firm.”
About Starnes: Starnes Davis Florie LLP is a firm of real trial lawyers focused on obtaining the highest value for its clients. While the firm is one of the most experienced in complex litigation in the Southeast and vigorously contests courtroom battles in bet-the-company cases, it also understands that value means more than just winning verdicts. With a lean structure designed to deliver top shelf advice in a cost-effective way, Starnes provides real value by collaborating with its clients to accomplish their goals and enhance their bottom-line. With 60+ lawyers, 5 members of the American College of Trial Lawyers, and 11 members of the American Board of Trial Advocates, the firm has offices in Birmingham, AL; Mobile, AL; and Nashville, TN. To learn more, please visit Starnes Davis Florie’s website.
About the Mansfield Rule: The rule is named after Arabella Mansfield, the first woman admitted to the practice of law in the United States. It 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. To learn more about the Mansfield Rule, visit Diversity Lab’s website.
No representation is made that the quality of the legal services to be performed is greater than the quality of legal services performed by other lawyers.