Kennedys maintains Mansfield Certification accreditation

For the third year running, we have been recognised for our commitment to driving diversity in leadership, achieving Mansfield Certification in both the US and UK.

Mansfield, run by the Diversity Lab, is a year-long structured certification process designed to ensure all qualified talent at participating law firms has a transparent, fair and equal opportunity to be considered for advancement into leadership. The focus is on opening the door wider and ensuring that opportunities for advancement are inclusive for everyone, including historically underrepresented lawyers.

Data shows firms that remain committed and accountable to the Mansfield Certification process year-over-year are making substantial progress in diversifying their leadership ranks.

Meg Catalano, US regional managing partner and executive group member, says: “Achieving Mansfield certification once again confirms our deep commitment to ensuring equal opportunities for all and striving for better representation in leadership roles. I am proud to be a leader of a firm that has diversity and inclusion at its heart.

“This dual accreditation would not be possible without the commitment and work of our people in both regions. We will continue to evolve and develop our approach to drive inclusivity built on the principles of Mansfield.”

Claire Bushen, UK-based partner and head of our Manchester office, says: “Our Mansfield Certification is a milestone in our journey towards a more inclusive and equitable workplace. We recognise that diverse perspectives drive innovation and excellence, and we remain steadfast in our efforts to build a culture where everyone can succeed.

“I am delighted that our commitment and achievements have been recognised in both the UK and the US.”

Alyssa Jarvis, director of Mansfield & strategic innovations at Diversity Lab, adds: “We are experiencing firsthand that law firm leaders don’t just say they value equity, diversity, and inclusion, they are taking measurable actions to ensure leadership opportunities are more inclusive. They are opening the door wider.”

The Mansfield Rule, which launched in the US in 2017 and was rolled out to the UK in 2021, came from a winning pitch in Diversity Lab’s Women in Law Hackathon, a collaboration between Stanford Law School and Bloomberg Law.

It is named after America’s first female lawyer, Arabella Mansfield, and is inspired by the National Football League’s Rooney Rule, which requires all NFL teams to interview at least one minority candidate for head coaching and other senior positions.

In addition to Mansfield accreditation, Kennedys has just hosted its seventh consecutive year as a global partner of the Lloyd’s of London Dive In Festival, the multi-awarding winning global festival promoting diversity and inclusion in the insurance industry.