News Release
McGlinchey Earns Mansfield Recertification Reinforcing Commitment to Inclusion and Transparency
Read Time: 3 minsMcGlinchey Stafford is proud to announce that, for the second time, it has achieved Midsize Mansfield Certification, reaffirming the firm’s commitment to diversity in leadership and inclusive hiring practices. As part of a broader effort within the legal industry, McGlinchey is one of over 360 firms to earn certification for 2023-2024, marking a 13% increase from the previous year and highlighting the legal profession’s growing focus on advancing inclusive and transparent leadership processes.
“Fostering inclusion and fairness is not something that happens overnight; it requires ongoing dedication and accountability,” said Michael Ferachi, McGlinchey’s Managing Member. “Mansfield recertification not only reflects our past accomplishments but also reinforces our ongoing commitment to creating lasting change—within our firm, the broader legal industry, and our communities.”
Diversity Lab’s year-long certification process ensures that McGlinchey considers women lawyers, underrepresented racial and ethnic lawyers, LGBTQ+ lawyers, and lawyers with disabilities for key roles such as leadership positions, equity partner promotions, formal client pitches, and lateral hiring. This achievement signifies McGlinchey’s sustained dedication to opening doors wider and creating transparent pathways for underrepresented groups. In August 2024, McGlinchey signed on to participate in the certification process for a third term.
“Achieving Mansfield recertification is a testament to our continued progress in seeking talent with diverse backgrounds and experiences within McGlinchey,” said Eliska Plunkett, Director of Human Resources and Chief Diversity Officer. “The tools and strategies provided by Diversity Lab have been crucial in creating long-term, sustainable changes in our leadership and recruitment processes. This recertification shows that we are on the right path, and we remain committed to advancing these principles.”
Mansfield’s certification standards have grown more challenging each year, and McGlinchey has recommitted to key principles of transparency, accountability, and knowledge sharing. McGlinchey has embraced these principles by developing written leadership role descriptions and creating clearly defined pathways to leadership, ensuring that all candidates have well-communicated opportunities for career progression. Before Mansfield, fewer than half of participating firms had transparent leadership job descriptions—today, McGlinchey proudly stands as a leader in this evolving standard of access and transparency.
“We’re always striving to improve our processes and ensure that we are recruiting the best talent, with a strong focus on inclusion,” said Margeaux Roush, Director of Talent Acquisition. “Mansfield keeps us accountable, and the results speak for themselves—our recertification is proof of the advances we’ve made in identifying, recruiting, and promoting talent. We are excited to keep building on this success.”
McGlinchey is proud to have been one of the first 100 firms in the U.S. and Canada to achieve Midsize Mansfield Certification. This program, launched in 2020, is designed for firms with fewer than 150 lawyers. It was created to accommodate midsize firms that may have smaller footprints, less formal leadership structures, and fewer hiring and promotion opportunities. With data now proving Mansfield’s impact—75% of certified firms have significantly improved diverse representation in client pitch teams, lateral partner hires, and equity partner promotions—McGlinchey is leveraging this framework to expand opportunities for its diverse talent.
Data from Mansfield-certified firms has also demonstrated significant industry impact, including a 41% growth rate in underrepresented racial and ethnic equity partners—compared to just 16% at non-Mansfield firms—and women equity partners growing nearly three times faster at Mansfield firms than their non-Mansfield counterparts. McGlinchey is proud to be part of this ongoing transformation.
As our firm looks ahead, McGlinchey remains committed to driving forward initiatives such as #McGlincheyForward, which emphasizes change, culture, empowerment, growth, and gratitude. McGlinchey has a long history of recognition for its commitment to inclusivity, including its involvement with the Leadership Council on Legal Diversity (LCLD) since the organization’s founding in 2009. The firm has been recognized as a Top Performer by the LCLD and earned the prestigious Compass Award—LCLD’s highest honor—three times. McGlinchey is recognized by Vault as a Best Law Firms for Diversity and a Best Law Firms for Women since 2023. The firm’s internal initiatives, such as McGlinchey PRIDE, Uplift Women’s Initiative, BOLD (McGlinchey Black Originators, Leaders, and Doers), and Wellness Works, continue to support a diverse and welcoming workplace.