Lewis Brisbois’ Commitment to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
At Lewis Brisbois, diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) are integral components of our firm culture and everyday life. This inclusive atmosphere of opportunity – one that reflects the vibrant diversity of the clients we represent – has propelled us to become one of the nation’s largest and most successful law firms. Under the leadership of our Chief Diversity Partner and Director of Diversity & Business Development, along with firm management, our Women’s Initiative, and our longstanding DEI Committee, we maintain a multi-faceted approach to achieving our DEI goals. This approach includes nationwide mentorship programs, firmwide training, national affinity groups, relationships with law school student groups, fellowships, and plans for future initiatives – all designed to hire, retain, and promote diverse and exceptional legal talent.
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Mission Statement
Lewis Brisbois’ diversity, equity, and inclusion mission is:
- To strengthen Lewis Brisbois by encouraging the hiring, support, mentoring, promotion, and retention of diverse attorneys and staff based on merit, potential, and effort
- To help the firm better highlight our diversity, thereby leveraging this unique asset in business development, and
- To help all lawyers within the firm address disparities in diverse and non-diverse hiring (including lateral hiring), support, and retention. Lewis Brisbois believes that an individual's distinctive circumstance is informed and affected by, among other things, his/her/their gender, race, orientation, family status, religion, ethnicity, age, physical abilities, and other factors.
To accomplish the goals stated above, Lewis Brisbois will proactively consider diversity in assessing and supporting each employee in the firm and take active steps to promote diversity in our communities.
The team of lawyers and staff who lead Lewis Brisbois’ diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts and initiatives includes: San Bernardino Administrative Partner and National Healthcare Group Co-Chair Rima Badawiya, who serves as the firm’s Chief Diversity Partner; Director of Diversity & Business Development Janet Burt; and New York Partner Karen Campbell, along with Los Angeles Partner Alexis Crump, who serve as co-chairs of the firm’s Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Committee. Rima, Janet, Karen, and Alexis work directly with the firm’s leadership to support and expand our diversity mission, while promoting firmwide education and awareness of diversity and its ability to enrich our workplace, our communities, our profession, and our everyday lives.
Lewis Brisbois has achieved Mansfield 6.0 Certification following its successful completion of a year-long program administered by Diversity Lab. The certification signifies that Lewis Brisbois took deliberate steps over the last 12 months to ensure that at least 30% of the individuals considered for leadership positions were members of historically underrepresented groups. The firm also achieved Mansfield 5.0 Certification in 2022 and is currently participating in the Mansfield Rule 7.0 Certification process.
In discussing Lewis Brisbois’ Mansfield 6.0 Certification, Chief Diversity Partner Rima Badawiya noted, “This significant milestone represents our longstanding commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion. We continue to work diligently to ensure that the composition of our firm and its leadership reflects the vibrant diversity of the exceptional clients we represent. We already have begun our work toward achieving Mansfield Rule 7.0 Certification alongside other top-tier firms that share our values, and we look forward to continuing our important partnership with Diversity Lab.”
Similarly, Lewis Brisbois Managing Partner Gregory Katz expressed continued resolve regarding the firm’s diversity initiatives. “Earning the Mansfield Certification demonstrates our dedication to providing open paths to leadership at Lewis Brisbois,” he stated. “It also represents our commitment to promoting diversity across the legal profession as a whole, as we join the other outstanding law firms that achieved Mansfield 6.0 Certification this year.”
Co-Chairs of Lewis Brisbois’ Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Committee Alexis Crump and Karen Campbell noted that the longevity of many diverse partners at Lewis Brisbois is a testament to who we are. They underscored that our firm has been a leader in diversity for decades, and said, “We are pleased that Diversity Lab has created a measure for law firms to ensure that the legal community will continue to learn, grow, and expand diversity, equity, and inclusion. The research is clear that diversity expands culture and increases the bottom line. The Mansfield Certification process improves our firm, other AM100 firms, and the legal profession as a whole.”
Likewise, Co-Chairs of Lewis Brisbois’ Women’s Initiative Janet Eskow and Jana Lubert explained, “The firm’s Mansfield Rule 6.0 Certification propels us forward as we consider the myriad ways that the Women’s Initiative can continue to support all our attorneys to aspire towards fulfillment and achieve their goals while promoting DEI across the firm.”
In addition, Chair of Lewis Brisbois’ inaugural DEI Advisory Board Jonathan Goins acknowledged, “Lewis Brisbois’ continued focus on DEI is evident in its numerous diversity accolades and rankings, including the most recent certification. Composed of 12 attorneys from across the country, the firm’s DEI Advisory Board looks forward to further assisting firm management in executing specific plans for expanding and progressing our DEI efforts and firm cultural values.”
Furthermore, Chair of Lewis Brisbois’ LGBTQ Affinity Group Angie Ioannou noted, “I was pleased to hear the news about the firm achieving Mansfield Rule 6.0 Certification. Promoting acceptance and inclusivity within the firm has always been a personal goal of mine, and I continue to work with my colleagues and firm leadership to do just that.”
The Mansfield Rule, which seeks to promote diversity within the legal profession, challenges participating law firms and legal departments to consider at least 30% women lawyers, LGBTQ lawyers, lawyers with disabilities, and lawyers from historically underrepresented racial and ethnic groups for significant leadership roles, senior lateral positions, client pitch teams, appointments, and more. To achieve certification, organizations must demonstrate that they have considered diverse attorneys for these roles by tracking their pipeline of candidates and collecting data on interviews, hires, and promotions. The certification process includes built-in measurement, transparency, and accountability mechanisms.
Learn more about Diversity Lab here and the Mansfield Rule here.
Lewis Brisbois Elevates Five Attorneys from Historically Underrepresented Groups to Equity Partnership
Lewis Brisbois’ Diversity Equity & Inclusion (DEI) Committee is pleased to announce the recent elevation of five attorneys from historically underrepresented groups to equity partnership, expanding the already diverse leadership of the firm: New York Partner Erin O’Leary, Portland Managing Partner Jennifer Oetter, Los Angeles Partner Tony Sain, Atlanta Partner Christine Tenley, and Fort Lauderdale Co-Managing Partner Cheryl Wilke. Notably, these lawyers comprise 71% of those elected to the firm’s equity partnership this year.
Erin is a member of the General Liability and Professional Liability Practices. She has extensive experience defending high exposure construction and transportation matters, as well as malpractice claims against a variety of professionals. In addition to practicing in New York state, federal, and appellate courts, Erin has served as an adjunct professor at The City University of New York’s (CUNY) Lehman College. She described, "I'm honored to become a capital partner at Lewis Brisbois. Since joining the firm in 2019, I have been guided by smart, encouraging colleagues and supported by a talented team of lawyers and staff. I look forward to many more productive years helping to grow the firm and get the best results for our clients."
Jennifer, who serves as a vice-chair of the Healthcare, Medical Malpractice, and Long-Term Care Practices, focuses on civil litigation involving hospitals and healthcare professionals. She has significant experience representing providers from a variety of medical specialties and is particularly skilled in unique issues related to birth injury and sepsis litigation. Jennifer, who also is a member of the firm’s National Trial Team, expressed enthusiasm about her elevation to equity partner, describing, "My experience at every level of this firm it that it is an amazing, smart, and hardworking group of people and lawyers. I am proud and fortunate to be a part of Lewis Brisbois and humbled and excited for this new role. I am excited about our future and look forward to continuing to work with our wonderful clients and advancing Lewis Brisbois’ inclusive culture.”
Tony is a member of Lewis Brisbois’ General Liability and National Trial Practices. He focuses his practice on high-exposure, high-stakes, and high-profile matters involving catastrophic injury and wrongful death. Tony’s practice spans a number of areas, including personal injury, tort litigation, as well as police civil rights and public entity defense. In sharing his thoughts on becoming an equity partner, Tony stated, "At Lewis Brisbois, we have a nationwide family of the best trial attorneys, appellate advocates, civil litigators, and counselors in the country. I am thrilled to be embraced into the ranks of the equity partners of our firm, as we continue our collective work of developing the next generation of trial advocates and appellate advocates to build our firm to be of great service to our clients and our communities for decades to come."
Christine is a member of the Complex Business & Commercial Litigation, Labor & Employment, and Real Estate & Land Use Practices. With more than 23 years of national litigation, trial, class action, collective action, and appellate experience, she consistently resolves clients' difficult premises liability and workplace challenges. Christine also has handled investigation and administrative proceedings before federal and state government agencies. She explained that she is looking forward to serving in her new role, stating, "I am thrilled that I have been promoted to equity partner in recognition of my contributions to the firm and our clients. I am grateful for my colleagues' trust and look forward to continuing to demonstrate my dedication to our clients. Most importantly, I am eager to collaborate with my fellow equity partners in our shared commitment to drive the firm’s future growth and success.”
Cheryl serves as a vice chair of the Labor & Employment Practice and as a member of the Complex Business & Commercial Litigation Practice. She has a wide range of commercial litigation experience in federal and state courts, and has developed strong proficiencies in employment law, government contractor compliance, and business litigation involving mid-market and national businesses. Cheryl splits her time between the firm’s Fort Lauderdale, Miami, Washington, D.C., and Los Angeles offices. In discussing her new leadership role, she noted, “Equity Partner at Lewis Brisbois is more than the hallmarks of partnership at all great firms. Every good firm looks to their equity partners to achieve the goals of drive, dedication, and expertise. But being an equity partner at Lewis Brisbois requires the added commitment to the firm’s unending culture of client service, kindness, and professionalism. I am very grateful to be a small patch in the diversity quilt that is Lewis Brisbois.”
Please join us in congratulating these outstanding attorneys on their achievement.
Lewis Brisbois Increases Diversity of Its Management Committee
Lewis Brisbois’ Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DEI) Committee is pleased to announce the election of two individuals from historically underrepresented groups to the firm’s Management Committee: Newark Administrative Partner Malinda (“Mindy”) Miller and New York Administrative Partner Alecia Walters-Hinds. With these new appointments, three lawyers of color and six women now sit on the firm’s 15-member Management Committee, increasing the percentage of attorneys of color from 13% to 20% and women attorneys from 26% to 40%. Mindy and Alecia have joined San Bernardino Partner Rima Badawiya, Minneapolis Managing Partner Michelle Gilboe, Los Angeles Co-Managing Partners Jana Lubert and Kathleen Walker, as well as Los Angeles Co-Administrative Partner Craig Holden.
Mindy serves as a chair of the Healthcare, Medical Malpractice, and Long-Term Care Practices. With a depth of experience in the defense of long-term care and assisted living facilities, she is the preferred counsel for certain large, regional long-term care operators as well as many operators in New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania. Mindy also regularly presents on issues in long-term care litigation and provides in-service training to management and staff of healthcare facilities.
“I am so pleased to be joining Lewis Brisbois’ Management Committee,” Mindy said. “I look forward to contributing to the continued growth and success of the firm and to serving alongside my talented colleagues, including the five accomplished women leaders who sit on the committee.”
Alecia serves as a vice-chair of the General Liability Practice and as a member of the Healthcare and Medical Malpractice Practices. She also is a member of the firm’s National Trial Practice and the immediate past president of the New York City American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA). Alecia successfully handles high exposure and catastrophic injuries that range from general liability to medical malpractice claims. She has tried over 100 cases and taken over 50 verdicts.
“I am looking forward to serving on the Management Committee and helping to shape a bright future for Lewis Brisbois,” Alecia said. “This is truly a great and unexpected honor. I am happy to be joining such accomplished men and women who sit on the committee. It has been almost 13 years and there is no other place I would rather be.”
Rima serves as the firm’s chief diversity partner as well as a co-chair of the Healthcare Practice. Her civil trial practice focuses on the defense of nursing homes, assisted living facilities, physicians, hospitals, and other healthcare and long-term care professionals and organizations.
Michelle serves as a chair of the Life Sciences Practice and a vice-chair of the Complex Business & Commercial Litigation and Products Liability Practices. She is an experienced first-chair trial attorney with a national practice defending pharmaceutical, medical device, chemical products, industrial equipment, vehicle, food, and consumer goods manufacturers and suppliers. She has significant experience in complex class action and mass tort litigation.
Jana is a chair of the Directors & Officers Coverage Practice and a member of the Insurance Law Practice. Her practice focuses on insurance coverage matters, including the representation of insurance companies in litigation, arbitration, and mediation. She has over 30 years of legal experience and is significantly involved in the administration of the firm through her various leadership roles, including serving as General Counsel.
Kathleen serves as a chair of the firm's Healthcare Practice. For more than 30 years, she has dedicated her practice to representing the interests of long-term care facilities as well as all types of care providers. As such, she is the designated preferred counsel for several national assisted living operators and many California nursing home operators. She also provides risk management support to a broad array of clients.
Craig serves as a national co-chair of the Complex Business & Commercial Litigation and White Collar Defense Practices, as well as a vice-chair of the Directors & Officers and Securities Litigation and Government Affairs & Public Policy Practices. He manages a wide range of domestic and international commercial matters, with an emphasis on litigation, trials, and arbitrations involving complex and contested business transactions, intellectual property, unfair competition, entertainment, investment, and high-stakes disputes.
Lewis Brisbois has ranked 13th in Law360’s 2022 Diversity Snapshot – a measure of the overall presence of individuals from underrepresented backgrounds in law firms of all sizes.
Throughout Lewis Brisbois’ history, the firm has been recognized for high achievements in the areas of diversity, equity, and inclusion. Over the past year, its focus on capturing the full picture of its diversity has led to the firm’s rise in several diversity rankings – including the Law360 Diversity Snapshot. As described in the Law360 Pulse article, "Diversity Snapshot: Representation in the Ranks," the Diversity Snapshot serves as a “comprehensive ranking of law firms on their overall representation of minority attorneys,” providing “a picture of where firms are now, and where the future might lead.”
Moreover, as explained in the main article of this special publication, "Diversity Snapshot: How Firms Stack Up," Law360 used its own historical surveys as well as data from the American Bar Association to evaluate the diversity in firm headcounts against benchmarks that reflected diversity in the potential marketplace of new hires. Lewis Brisbois’ efforts to capture its diversity numbers has led to a significant increase in the firm’s position from 58th to 13th. This year's Snapshot includes 291 law firms, with 75 in the 600+ attorneys category.
Commenting on the firm's improved ranking, Chief Diversity Partner Rima M. Badawiya said, “On behalf of our Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee, we are extremely proud that Lewis Brisbois has advanced so significantly in the Diversity Snapshot report. We believe that our ranking this year is a reflection of our efforts to educate ourselves regarding the diversity that exists across our nationwide network, as well as our ongoing commitment to the values of diversity, equity, and inclusion, which the firm promotes at all levels and in all of our 55 offices. We will continue to work hard to hire and reward exceptional, diverse legal talent and to maintain our inclusive atmosphere of opportunity.”
Regarding the firm's ongoing diversity efforts, Ms. Badawiya also noted, “There is always more work to be done in the diversity arena, and Lewis Brisbois is committed to putting action to our words. It is gratifying to set and reach new goals.”
Learn more about Law360’s Diversity Snapshot here (subscription required).
Lewis Brisbois Receives Providence Business News Diversity & Inclusion Award
Lewis Brisbois has received a Providence Business News (PBN) 2022 Diversity & Inclusion Award, which recognizes local organizations' commitment to promoting and enhancing diversity and inclusion in the workplace. According to a PBN article, Lewis Brisbois is the only organization that the publication recognized in its legal category. The firm will be honored alongside fellow award recipients from other industries at PBN’s 2022 Diversity & Inclusion Summit and Awards program, taking place on December 1 at 9:00 a.m. ET at the Crowne Plaza Hotel cin Warwick, Rhode Island.
In discussing the award, Providence Managing Partner Lauren Motola-Davis said, “I am proud that Lewis Brisbois is the only law firm in Rhode Island to have received this honor from Providence Business News. This recognition is a testament to all the effort we have always invested in our diversity and inclusion initiatives.” She added, “I want to thank Partner Gregory Tumolo in our Providence office and all the members of our DEI Committee for their continued hard work.”
Similarly, Chief Diversity Partner Rima Badawiya stated, “I am so pleased that Lewis Brisbois has received this recognition for its diversity and inclusion efforts. Congratulations to our Providence office on this well-deserved award!”
The PBN awards program in December will feature a summit and panel discussions on diversity and inclusion. PBN will announce discussion topics and participating panelists at a later date.
Learn more about PBN’s Diversity & Inclusion Awards here and register for the summit and awards program here.
Lewis Brisbois Celebrates National Hispanic Heritage Month 2022
In honor of National Hispanic Heritage Month this year (September 15 through October 15), Lewis Brisbois shared a series of spotlight posts featuring our Hispanic American colleagues reflecting upon the importance of this month and mentorship within the Hispanic and legal communities. You can see all these spotlight posts here.
Lewis Brisbois Celebrates Pride Month 2022
Throughout June, Lewis Brisbois honored our LGBTQ colleagues and the LGBTQ community at large with a month-long spotlight series during which we shared reflections from LGBTQ members of our Lewis Brisbois family. You can see these posts here. Learn more about Lewis Brisbois' LGBTQ Affinity Group here.
Lewis Brisbois Celebrates Asian American & Pacific Islander Heritage Month 2022
Throughout May, Lewis Brisbois celebrated the culture and contributions of Asian Americans and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Americans with a series of spotlight posts from our AAPI colleagues sharing their diverse experiences and perspectives on mentorship. You can see all these spotlight posts here.
Lewis Brisbois Celebrates Women's History Month 2022
Throughout March, Lewis Brisbois celebrated Women's History Month by shining a spotlight on some of the exceptional women attorneys from across our nationwide network, who shared their perspectives on the importance of mentorship. You can see all these spotlight posts here. Learn more about Lewis Brisbois' Women's Initiative here.
Lewis Brisbois Celebrates Black History Month 2022
Throughout February, Lewis Brisbois shared the thoughts and reflections of our Black colleagues on the importance of mentorship and honoring Black History Month. You can see all these spotlight posts here.
Lewis Brisbois is proud to announce that the firm is participating in the Mansfield Rule 6.0 certification process, which is administered by Diversity Lab and aimed at increasing and sustaining diversity in law firm leadership. Lewis Brisbois’ participation in the newest version of the Mansfield certification follows its successful completion of the Mansfield Rule 5.0 certification process.
As described in Diversity Lab’s recent press release, Mansfield 6.0 launched in July of this year and includes more than 180 law firms nationwide. The parameters for the 2022-2023 certification process have expanded in scope, making them the most rigorous to date. Specifically, the 6.0 version requires law firms to consider at least 30% historically underrepresented lawyers when appointing to firm leadership roles and promoting attorneys into equity partnership, as well as with respect to other activities that focus on the path to leadership. Moreover, Mansfield 6.0 includes a “Certification Plus” category, which evaluates whether firms have actually achieved diversity in leadership, as opposed to simply considering it.
Lewis Brisbois’ Chief Diversity Partner Rima M. Badawiya expressed enthusiasm about Lewis Brisbois’ ongoing work with Diversity Lab, noting, "Our decision to participate in the Mansfield certification process again this year aligns with our longstanding diversity, equity, and inclusion goals. Our work with Diversity Lab is an important component of our many diversity initiatives, and we are proud to participate alongside other firms that share our values. We look forward to achieving Mansfield 6.0 certification in 2023.”
Learn more about Diversity Labs here.
A Message to Our Communities (shared Summer 2020)
When we opened our doors over 40 years ago, we knew that one of our top priorities was to hire the best attorneys, staff, administrators, assistants, and clerks in every city where we opened an office. This core principle of our firm’s culture has resulted in our unique and valued diversity. We are proud to have a highly diverse firm comprising more than 3,000 people across the nation.
Within our firm we have many different lived experiences, and a wide array of views and perspectives, which all contribute to the success we enjoy. We care about each other, we listen to each other, and we respect each other. Recent events underscore the scourge of racism that still plagues our country. We know that horrific acts of brutality as we saw committed against George Floyd in Minnesota, Ahmaud Arbery in Georgia, and Breonna Taylor in Kentucky are not new, and unfortunately are likely not to be the last of their kind. We know that discriminatory acts based on race, sexual orientation, gender, religion, and other characteristics are all too common as well. While we open ourselves to learn and strive for understanding of everyone’s personal history and experiences, we recognize and acknowledge the pain these events cause. We stand against racism, discrimination, and violence. We support everyone’s First Amendment right to peacefully protest and those peaceful protests give us hope for a better future. We say to every employee of our firm, it is our honor to work with such extraordinary people. We commit to you that Lewis Brisbois will always do its utmost to provide a workplace environment in which everyone is safe and is treated respectfully, and where everyone’s voice is heard. We will continue to do our work as members of our communities across the country to raise awareness of injustice and promote fairness.
Women's Initiative at Lewis Brisbois