New York – February 27, 2024 – Cooley has achieved Mansfield Rule Certification status in the US and UK after completing Diversity Lab's rigorous 12-month certification process pursuant to Mansfield Rule 6.0 US and Mansfield Rule 2.0 UK. The status distinguishes the firm and its continued commitment to achieving the high standards Diversity Lab sets for certification.
Mansfield Rule Certification measures whether law firms have affirmatively considered women, underrepresented racial and ethnic groups, LGBTQ+ lawyers, and lawyers with disabilities for leadership and governance roles, equity partner promotions, formal client pitch opportunities, and senior lateral positions. Firms participating in the program have demonstrated an unwavering commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) and are making meaningful progress on diversifying law firm leadership.
Cooley's accomplishments that supported attaining this certification include:
- Exceeding more than 30% representation of lawyers from historically underrepresented backgrounds in firm leadership roles.
- Publishing partner compensation criteria and processes to all lawyers in the firm.
- Tracking candidate pools to measure the impact of the Mansfield Rule across underrepresented groups.
- Nominating more than 30% of underrepresented lawyers for recognition in Chambers USA to increase their external visibility.
- Considering more than 30% of underrepresented individuals when hiring and promoting C-level and other senior-level business professionals.
Cooley will continue to participate in the Mansfield Rule program with the launch of Mansfield Rule 7.0 in the US and Mansfield Rule 3.0 in the UK. Additionally, the firm recently became an inaugural signatory to Diversity Lab's Disability Inclusion Commitments, through which signatories will implement one or more reforms to continue fostering a culture of disability inclusivity.
Cooley is dedicated to maintaining a workplace that values and celebrates differences. The firm is widely recognized for its DEI efforts by leading industry organizations and publications, including earning a score of 100 on theHuman Rights Campaign Foundation's Corporate Equality Index for the seventh time, being named toSeramount's Best Law Firms for Women and Diversity for the 12th consecutive year, and being honored with the Women in Law Empowerment Forum's US Gold Standard certification for the 12th straight year.