Miller Canfield Earns Mansfield Plus Certification for 2024, Leading the Charge for Diversity in the Legal Profession
Miller Canfield is proud to announce that it has earned Mansfield Plus Certification for 2023-2024, marking the seventh consecutive year the law firm has achieved this prestigious recognition. Miller Canfield was the first Michigan-based firm to hold this distinction and is one of just a select few firms nationwide to meet the rigorous criteria required to achieve Mansfield Plus Certification every year since the program’s inception.
Mansfield Certification, developed by Diversity Lab, measures whether law firms have affirmatively considered a minimum of 30% underrepresented lawyers—such as women, racial and ethnic minorities, LGBTQ+ individuals, and lawyers with disabilities—for leadership roles, equity partnership promotions, and lateral hiring. Firms that not only meet but exceed this goal by achieving actual 30% diverse representation in these key leadership positions are awarded the “Plus” certification.
“This recognition reflects our unwavering commitment to fostering a more inclusive and equitable legal profession. Our success is built on ensuring diverse voices are heard and respected, and that underrepresented lawyers have an equal opportunity to be promoted to leadership positions within the firm,” said Miller Canfield CEO Michael Palizzi.
During the 2023-2024 certification period, women and members of historically underrepresented groups at Miller Canfield account for:
- 100% of attorneys promoted to equity principalship
- 38% of the firm’s nomination committee
- 66% of the firm’s C-suite executive leadership
- 50% of the firm’s compensation committee
- 41% of resident directors in the firm’s U.S. offices
- 52% of the firm’s associates
- 64% of the firm’s U.S.-based associates are women or BIPOC
- 83% of the firm’s 2024 summer associate class are women or BIPOC
Miller Canfield’s participation in the Mansfield Rule has resulted in measurable progress toward promoting diversity in leadership roles. The firm’s initiatives also include participation in a summer associate program for BIPOC law students, expanded parental leave policies, a comprehensive Diversity Scorecard to track the demographics of its workforce and work assignments, and a robust mentorship and sponsorship program to ensure continued support for underrepresented attorneys.
Miller Canfield will continue to advance diversity through participation in the 2024-2025 Mansfield Certification process and is committed to further progress in diversity, equity, and inclusion, both within the firm and in the broader community.