June 19,2017
Washington, D.C. – The Minority Corporate Counsel Association (MCCA) announced today the three finalists for the prestigious Thomas L. Sager Award™. The Sager Award recognizes large, national Am Law 200 law firms that have championed diversity and inclusion, and demonstrated a sustained commitment to improving the hiring, retention and promotion of diverse attorneys. The Sager Award was first presented in 1999 and is named after former DuPont Senior Vice President and General Counsel Thomas L. Sager, a widely-respected leader in diversity. Winners are selected based on a stringent review and scoring of nominee’s efforts in recruitment, retention, mentoring and promotion, as well as implementation of innovative practices that impact and break the barriers to entry in the legal profession.
This year’s applications were exceptional, and the decision was difficult and heavily debated. All applications were reviewed via scorecard and the three finalists are separated by one mere point. The 2017 Thomas L. Sager Award™ finalists are: Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP, Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP, and Proskauer Rose LLP.
“I am excited to be recognizing our three finalists this year for championing diversity & inclusion and their commitment to make the next generation of legal leaders as diverse as the world we live in,” stated A.B. Cruz III, Board Chair of MCCA. “The Thomas L. Sager Award honors national law firms who recognize the value and positive impact of diversity and inclusion in the workplace and on the bottom line.”
All three finalists will be showcased and the winner will be announced and honored at the 2017 Diversity Gala on October 4 at the American Museum of Natural History in New York City. The three finalists will also be profiled in Diversity & the Bar ® magazine, the official magazine of the MCCA.
“We salute this year’s finalists for their leadership, passion and commitment to leading the charge for change”, said Jean Lee, President and CEO of MCCA. “The Sager Award was designed to recognize law firms that champion a more diverse and inclusive workforce. These three law firms are change-makers whose tireless efforts are breaking down the barriers to entry.”
Founded in 1997, the mission of the Minority Corporate Counsel Association is to advance the hiring, retention, and promotion of diverse attorneys in law departments and the law firms that serve them. MCCA furthers its mission by publishing research on achieving diversity and best practices in the legal profession, honoring innovative diversity programs with its Thomas L. Sager, Employer of Choice and George B. Vashon Innovator awards, and assisting diverse law students through the Lloyd M. Johnson, Jr. Scholarship Program. MCCA’s work has been recognized with awards from the National Minority Business Council, Inc., the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, the National Gay and Lesbian Law Association, and the Association of Corporate Counsel.
For more information on MCCA’s Thomas L. Sager Award, Pathways to Diversity Conference and Diversity Gala, please visit www.mcca.com.