Diversity

In a Law360 Pulse expert analysis article, Mintz’s Narges Kakalia reflected on her career transition last year from litigator to the firm's first Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI). In the article, she shared her professional experience as a woman of color and how it led her to this new role, as well as provided insights on how to become an effective DEI leader in the legal industry and beyond.

Mintz Member and Chair of the firm’s Pro Bono Committee Susan Finegan was featured in the inaugural Chambers Diversity & Inclusion North America Report. In her Q&A profile, Ms. Finegan discussed the Massachusetts Access to Justice Fellows program she co-founded as well as her work on groundbreaking immigrants’ rights cases.

Mintz was featured in a special publication from the National Legal Aid & Defender Association highlighting its Beacon of Justice 2021 awardees. The firm was selected for its efforts to further racial equity by providing pro bono assistance to marginalized individuals and groups, promoting access to justice in communities of color, and supporting civil rights-focused nonprofits, among many other initiatives.

Law360 covered Mintz Member LisaMarie Collins participation in the ACC Foundation’s Global Women in Law & Leadership Virtual Conference. Her session, "Diversifying the Board Room – Women Lawyers Leading the Way,” addressed the changing landscape of the board room which was previously thought to be out of reach for lawyers - and women in particular.

Director of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Narges M. Kakalia was quoted extensively in an article published by The American Lawyer examining diversity fatigue, and how it threatens the progress law firms are making around eliminating systemic racism and creating a more inclusive environment.

Director of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Narges M. Kakalia participated in a DEI Twitter panel co-hosted by Law.com and GlobeSt. covering a range of topics from the effects of remote work on inclusion and equity to the problem of implicit bias and how to remove it from the process of evaluating legal talent.

Mintz Member, Co-chair of the firm’s Sports & Entertainment Practice, and Chair of the firm’s Diversity Committee Tyrone Thomas was quoted extensively in the final article in a three-part series published by Law360’s Employment Authority looking at race and gender equity in college sports. Specifically, the article examined how college basketball can diversify its coaching ranks, and Mr. Thomas reflected on how college athletics might address its pipeline problem and other shortcomings when it comes to both race and gender diversity, including by creating training and pipeline recruiting opportunities, implementing diversity goals (not quotas) and incentives, and designing appropriate and legal voluntary affirmative action plans.

In Reuters Westlaw’s "Daily Docket" column, Mintz Member Angela Y. Kung was featured for her recent promotion to partner and for her efforts to bring together up-and-coming women to network in the male-dominated telecommunications industry.

Thomson Reuters’ Legal Executive Institute published a case study on Mintz’s formal sponsorship program for Associates of color, detailing how the program monitors the sponsor-protégé relationship, tracks protégé assignments, encourages business development collaboration, and more. The case study also included extensive commentary from Mintz Member and Chair of the firm’s Diversity Committee Tyrone P. Thomas on the sponsorship program’s evolution and success.

An article published by Thomson Reuters Westlaw reported that Mintz’s recently announced Member promotions stood out for its majority women class – seven out of the nine attorneys elevated are women. In the article, Mintz Managing Member Bob Bodian commented on the firm’s culture of hiring and nurturing lawyers from diverse backgrounds, including women, and the importance of having women in leadership positions.