May 22, 2023

Harness IP Earns Mansfield Rule Certification for Midsize Firms

Harness IP is proud to announce that the firm has achieved Mansfield Rule Certification status for midsize firms in the 2021-2023 cohort. This achievement is the result of several years of hard work across the firm and recognizes Harness IP’s “strong commitment to moving the dial on diversity in law firm leadership.”

The certification, presented by Diversity Lab, follows a rigorous application and review process and aims to highlight the importance of increasing the representation of diverse lawyers in leadership. By broadening the pool of women lawyers, LGBTQ+ lawyers, lawyers with disabilities, and/or racial/ethnic minority lawyers, firms are considered leaders in the legal industry when it comes to improving DEI initiatives. 

Diversity Lab launched the Mansfield Rule Certification in 2017 with the primary requirement being for at least 30% to 50% of candidates for leadership roles at large firms to be women lawyers and lawyers from underrepresented racial and ethnic groups. In the versions that followed, including this year’s certification earned by Harness, parameters were steadily broadened to include LGBTQ+ lawyers and lawyers with disabilities, as well as implementing inclusion in critical pipeline activities, such as pitch teams, senior-lateral hiring and more.

“The Mansfield Rule Certification is the gold standard by which law firm diversity efforts are measured,” said Leanne Rakers, chair of the Harness Diversity & Inclusion Committee. “The multiyear certification process involves several efforts designed to boost diversity in leadership roles across the firm, including attorney and staff recruiting and hiring, committee leadership, client pitch and business meeting participation, governance election and role transparency, managing partner/chairperson nominations and equity partner promotions. These quantifiable metrics create a strong foundation upon which we are building a more diverse, equitable business.”

Harness IP joins a class of 30 midsize firms that have been collaborating with Diversity Lab for the past 18 months. Seventy firms have achieved Mansfield Rule Certification status since the midsize firm program’s inception in 2020.

More information about Harness’s Diversity & Inclusion commitment is available here, and more information on Diversity Lab’s latest Mansfield Rule certification process is available here.

 

 

 


Harness IP is celebrating more than 100 years as an intellectual property law firm. Founded in 1921, the firm currently holds a No. 2 ranking from IAM Media for providing counsel to 44 companies with the largest portfolios of issued U.S. patents. The firm also ranks No. 6 for filing the most patent applications on behalf of those companies. Harness IP’s attorneys and IP professionals focus exclusively on patents, trademarks, global IP management, litigation and other IP rights. The firm has offices in metropolitan Dallas, Detroit, St. Louis, and Washington, D.C. Visit www.harnessip.com for more information.