OBWB is Midsize Mansfield Certified Plus
Osha Bergman Watanabe and Burton LLP is pleased to announce the achievement of Midsize Mansfield Certification Plus, a program intended to improve law firm diversity through tracking, consideration, and collaboration. For the past 18 months OBWB has been participating in the inaugural Midsize Mansfield Rule program in collaboration with Diversity Lab and alongside 26 other firms.
The firm has certified that, over the past 18 months, we considered at least 30 percent diverse lawyers for hiring opportunities, leadership and governance roles, equity partner promotions, and formal client pitch opportunities. Additionally, to receive “Plus” status, the firm certified that we successfully achieved 30 percent diverse representation in current leadership roles, formal client pitches, and staffing on key matters.
“A core feature of our firm has been, and always will be, providing a diverse and inclusive environment” said Jeff Bergman, Managing Partner of OBWB. “Participating in Mansfield allowed us to build upon our previous initiatives with a more measurable and transparent process. We are proud to be a Midsize Mansfield Certified Plus firm and look forward to continuing our partnership with Diversity Lab and Midsize Mansfield Rule.”
With the completion of the certification, OBWB has earned the opportunity to participate in the 2023 Mansfield Rule Client Forums. Participation in the forums will help to foster growth and build relationships for our newly promoted historically underrepresented partners.
Looking forward, OBWB has signed on to take part in the 2022-2023 iteration of Midsize Mansfield Rule program. Additionally, we continue to look for opportunities to further promote equitable representation for our workforce. Carlyn Burton, the Partner who leads the firm’s Diversity and Inclusion Committee, commented on the firm's ongoing initiatives saying “the patent profession faces unique challenges due to the lower representation of diverse individuals with STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) degrees. As we continue to participate with Diversity Lab and the Midsize Mansfield Rule, we are also committed, in parallel with our efforts as a part of the Midsize Mansfield Rule, to exploring other ways to increase opportunities for diverse patent engineers and agents. Hiring of diverse individuals through our Patent Agent Program is not in fact recognized as part of the Midsize Mansfield Rule, though we believe it is important and an effective way to create a more diverse pipeline of practitioners in the patent bar.”
