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Hanson Bridgett Receives Top Performer Award for DEI Efforts

October 27, 2021 (San Francisco, CA)Hanson Bridgett LLP, an AmLaw 200 law firm for all of California, has been named a Top Performer by the Leadership Council on Legal Diversity (LCLD), recognizing those law firms and corporations showing a strong commitment to building more diverse organizations and a more inclusive legal profession.

LCLD is one of the nation’s leading organizations promoting diversity and consists of more than 350 corporate chief legal officers and law firm managing partners—the leadership of the profession—who have dedicated themselves to creating a truly diverse U.S. legal profession. Hanson Bridgett has been a LCLD member since 2009 and has participated on LCLD's Board of Directors, as well as the Fellows, Pathfinder, 1L Scholars and Success in Law School Mentoring Programs. This year marks the sixth consecutive year receiving the Top Performer award.

The Top Performer award recognizes those organizations in the top 20 percent for participation in LCLD programs and activities. Last month, LCLD’s Board of Directors announced a requirement for members to create a public pledge detailing actions they will take to advance diverse talent. We are proud to be among those organizations who created a pledge in advance of the June 2022 deadline, which outlines not only our firm's commitment to advancing diverse talent, but also the personal investment of our managing partner to this work. Our pledge can be read here.

This award comes on the heels of several national awards and recognition for the firm's diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) efforts. The start of 2021 was part of an intentional strategy to expand the firm's initiatives, starting with some internal changes. The firm appointed Kristina Lawson as the firm's first female managing partner who named the firm's first Chief Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Officer, Jennifer Martinez, followed by the appointment of the firm's first Director of Pro Bono and Social Impact, Samir Abdelnour. Recently, the firm received Minority Corporate Counsel Association's  2021 George B. Vashon Award as well as achieving Mansfield 4.0 Certification Plus Status. Earlier this year, Kristina Lawson was selected for Corporate Counsel's 2021 Women, Influence & Power in Law Awards; the firm was named as a Best Law Firm for Women for the 12th year; and the firm received two honors at the ELEVATE awards.

"We are honored to receive this award from such a prestigious organization committed to furthering DEI in the corporate world and legal profession. We know there is much more to be done, however. My mandate as the firm's first CDEIO is to ensure we are not just paying lip service to diversity, equity, and inclusion issues once per decade. We want to ensure we take real action within our firm, the legal profession at large, and our communities," Martinez said.

Click here to read more about LCLD’s awards and view the full lists of winners.

About Hanson Bridgett LLP

Hanson Bridgett LLP is a full service AmLaw 200 law firm with more than 200 attorneys across California. Creating a diverse workforce by fostering an atmosphere of belonging and intentional support has been a priority at Hanson Bridgett since its founding in 1958. We are dedicated to creating an environment that provides opportunities for people with varied backgrounds, both for attorneys and administrative professionals. We are also committed to the communities where our employees live and work and consider it part of our professional obligation to serve justice by encouraging and supporting pro bono and social impact work.

For media inquiries contact:

John J. Buchanan
Chief Marketing Officer
Hanson Bridgett LLP
415-995-5031