Firm Honored as Leading Organization Paving the Way for the Future of Diversity and Inclusion in Los Angeles and Beyond

Mintz is pleased to share that the firm has been recognized as “Organization of the Year” by the Los Angeles Business Journal’s 2021 Diversity, Inclusion and Equity Awards, which honor diversity, inclusion, and equity champions in the Los Angeles region for their ongoing efforts to celebrate and respect the unique needs, perspectives, and potential of all their team members while simultaneously creating an inclusive environment that enables diversity and equity to thrive. The Organization of the Year Award, which distinguishes Mintz as a leading organization paving the way for the future of diversity and inclusion, was accepted on behalf of the firm by Managing Member of Mintz’s Los Angeles office Joshua Briones during a March 24 virtual awards ceremony.

Mintz was selected as the winner of this award due to its longstanding commitment to increasing diversity and inclusion at the firm and in the legal community, as well as its measurable results and demonstrated progress. The firm is consistently recognized as a diversity leader in the legal profession. For example, year after year, Mintz exceeds National Association for Law Placement (NALP) peer averages on partner-level diversity across metrics — by persons of color, gender, and LGBTQ status. In 2020, Mintz again received the Gold Standard Certification from the Women in Law Empowerment Forum, and also earned its 13th consecutive perfect score on the annual Corporate Equality Index administered by the Human Rights Campaign Foundation. On an individual level, Mintz leaders have been acknowledged for their diversity and inclusion efforts, including Managing Member Bob Bodian, who received the 2020 Outstanding Ally Award from Chambers Diversity & Inclusion Awards: North America for his outstanding commitment to diversity and inclusion in the legal profession as an ally for diverse groups.

Additionally, in 2020, in response to nationwide calls for businesses and others to address deep-rooted racial inequities, Mintz doubled-down on its commitment to promoting diversity and inclusion by announcing a new, multi-step diversity and inclusion plan, which included a firm goal of increasing the number of Black attorneys by 50% by June 2022, and continuing to undertake social justice reform work on a pro bono basis, among several other actions. Additionally, as part of this plan, Mintz donated $150,000 between three nonprofits focused on civil rights, and separately, Member Narges M. Kakalia was appointed the firm’s first Director of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion.

“Mintz is dedicated to creating a more inclusive and equitable profession. We are doing so internally through efforts such as reducing bias in recruiting, work allocation, evaluation and promotion of our attorneys, developing the leadership skills of our women and attorneys of color, and establishing forums for open discussion with attorneys and staff at all levels. We also are focusing externally by developing community outreach and hosting diversity-focused events,” Ms. Kakalia said. “This recognition from the Los Angeles Business Journal comes at an inflection point in our nation’s history, and reinforces the importance of continuing our innovative DEI efforts and work to move the legal profession – and our community – forward.”

On a regional level, Mintz’s Los Angeles office leads a number of the firm’s diversity and inclusion-focused events and initiatives that benefit the community. For example, Mintz Los Angeles has for several years hosted a unique “Lawyer for a Day” event, which brings in middle school students from a local Title One school to learn about the legal system and profession from firm attorneys and in-house counsel of color. Additionally, the firm’s Los Angeles office hosts an annual Women’s Event featuring insights from successful women in law, which is open to members of the local legal and business communities.

“We are proud to be named Organization of the Year for our work to further diversity and inclusion in the Los Angeles business and regional community, and nationally,” said Mr. Briones. “Mintz’s Los Angeles office prides itself on creating a supportive and collaborative environment for attorneys of color and women, and remarkably, the office consists of over 42% women attorneys, and nearly 40% attorneys from diverse backgrounds. We are committed to continuing to make progress in this regard and facilitating important discussions on race and social justice with each other and in the community.”

In addition to the 2021 Diversity, Inclusion and Equity Awards program, the Los Angeles Business Journal hosted a series of panel discussions featuring companies and individuals who have shown an exceptional commitment to advancing diversity and inclusion in the workplace and business leadership. To learn more about the keynote speaker, symposium, and awards program, please click here.

For more information on Mintz’s diversity efforts, please click here.

For more information about Mintz, please visit www.mintz.com.