On March 17, 2021, FordHarrison LLP announced it had received McDonald’s Legal EMPOWER Award in the mid-size firms category. The award recognizes McDonald’s partner law firms that demonstrate a commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI).
For the 2021 awards, McDonald’s judged firms based on three characteristics: legal staffing on McDonald’s matters, origination credit allocations for McDonald’s matters, and dedication to DEI in employee recruitment and retention. It classified firms into two categories, large-size and mid-size, then picked a winner in each to receive the inaugural honor. Proskauer Rose LLP received the award in the large-size category.
Speaking after the announcement, FordHarrison Diversity and Inclusion Partner Dawn Siler-Nixon called it an honor for the firm to be recognized for its inclusive work environment and its dedication to promoting women and minorities in the legal profession. Siler-Nixon further stated that the firm’s balanced approach to creating diverse teams resulted in it offering superior service to clients, including McDonald’s.
Diversity is a foundational element of success. It allows organizations to tap into unique ideas and viewpoints, creating a strong team. FordHarrison has had a strategic diversity plan in place since 2006. The firm continuously builds on this plan in pursuit of its mission to facilitate inclusive environments where people are true to themselves, working together with others to make the firm a leader in its field. FordHarrison has focused its DEI efforts in three areas: recruitment, retention, and advancement; creating a better work environment; and developing engaged and active workforces.
With regard to recruitment, retention, and advancement, FordHarrison builds partnerships within the community to get and retain top talent. It also runs a number of internal programs to support promising women and minority lawyers as they advance in their careers. For example, the Leadership Academy nurtures lawyers with leadership potential by providing them with individualized resources and facilitating regular team interactions across the firm.
To create a better work environment, FordHarrison has a tailored mentoring plan that promotes cross-cultural interactions to eliminate biases and stereotyping. Through its Diversity Pipeline Mentoring program, minority associates receive consistent mentoring by four lawyers, including two partners, in the first three years of their employment.
Finally, to create an active and engaged workforce, the firm has a plan for utilizing its greatest asset, its people, to innovate and collaborate to drive change. FordHarrison encourages its lawyers to involve themselves in diversity programs in the legal industry; it also sponsors events such as the National Conference of Women’s Bar Associations, the Minority Corporate Counsel Association, and the Annual Minority Mentoring Picnic.
The firm’s efforts to promote DEI have borne fruit. As of the end of 2020, 43 percent of the firm’s lawyers identified as female, 42 percent of management identified as female or minority, and 51 percent of partners identified as female or minority. Many of these lawyers belong to minority organizations such as the Cuban American Bar Association and Disability Connections.
McDonald’s Legal EMPOWER Award is just one of the honors FordHarrison has received for its DEI efforts. In 2020, the firm was included in Law360’s top 10 Best Law Firms for Women in the category of law firms with 101 to 250 attorneys. In addition, it was ranked 12th for minority attorneys and 12th for minority equity partners.
