Reed Smith was recognized in the Firm Leadership category, as well as two practice group categories: Labor / Employment (awarded to the firm’s Global Labor and Employment Group) and Mergers & Acquisitions (awarded to the firm’s Global Corporate Group). Reed Smith is among a group of 20 firms that met or exceeded the criteria for the Inclusion Champion Awards at the firm leadership and/or practice group levels.

The Inclusion Blueprint is a one-of-a-kind assessment that provides law firm management and practice group leaders with a roadmap of inclusion practices that they should employ and measure to ensure their underrepresented lawyers have fair and equal access to quality work, influential people, and other opportunities. It also outlines diverse representation thresholds they should strive to reach by incorporating and monitoring these inclusion practices.

To be recognized as an Inclusion Blueprint Champion, firms had to achieve an Index Score of at least 70 out of 100 across four key indicators: (1) current diversity representation based on average or above-average thresholds, (2) year-over-year diversity representation progress, (3) diversity representation tracking, and (4) meaningful inclusion practices and activities. Firms also had to commit to at least one “Do Something Hard” action to be implemented in 2022.

“Being named an Inclusion Blueprint Champion by Diversity Lab affirms that we are both dedicated to and achieving results when it comes to fostering a diverse and inclusive workplace within our firm,” said Casey Ryan, Reed Smith’s Global Head of Legal Personnel. “We appreciate Diversity Lab’s commitment to challenge our profession to actively pursue ways to advance and embed diversity, equity and inclusion throughout our organizations.”

Diversity Lab’s press release announcing the full list of Inclusion Blueprint Award recipients can be found at diversitylab.app.box.com.