Encompass EducationCounsel Careers Contact Us Alumni Search People Capabilities Firm Culture Locations Idea Exchange What's New Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Embracing diversity, equity, and inclusive excellence Nelson Mullins is committed to building a diverse, equitable, and inclusive culture because not only is it the right thing to do, diversity, equity, and inclusion enhance and enrich our practice. In the same vein, we are committed to achieving and maintaining diversity in all aspects of firm life because we believe that all people deserve opportunity and respect, regardless of race, gender, age, ethnicity, national origin, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, marital or parental status, and more. We believe that diverse teams are more innovative, make better decisions, and achieve better results for our clients and the communities in which we live. We also remain steadfast in embracing a diversity of beliefs among our professionals, whether political, economic, social, or philosophical. Overview Pro Bono Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Community Service News & Noteworthy The Battle of Hayes Pond and Lessons from the Lumbee Marquetta J. Bryan Wins Black Leaders Worth Watching Award Programs and Partnerships Nelson Mullins provides a variety of opportunities that support our diversity initiatives, including programs that train young attorneys today for diverse leadership positions of tomorrow, guide women attorneys in career development through sponsorship and coaching, and provide diverse attorneys and their allies a network through affinity groups to connect with those who identify similarly. Leadership Council on Legal Diversity (LCLD) Legal profession leaders have the opportunity today to diversify the leadership of tomorrow, making way for a broader array of attorneys to provide input based on their diverse experiences and ultimately shape a broader approach to providing legal services. Recognizing the importance of tapping and training diverse future leaders, Managing Partner Jim Lehman joined the Leadership Council on Leadership Diversity, an organization of more than 300 corporate chief legal officers and law firm managing partners whose mission is to create a truly diverse U.S. legal profession. LCLD Fellows — Each year, the firm selects a mid-career diverse attorney to become an LCLD Fellow and participate in a yearlong program to enhance his or her leadership skills. Fellows embark on a learning program that includes in-person conferences, training in the fine points of legal practice, peer-group projects to foster collaboration and build relationships, and extensive contact with LCLD’s top leadership, including the managing partners and general counsel who host the Fellows for Learning Experiences and Leadership Lunches. Read More LCLD Pathfinders — Younger diverse attorneys can participate in LCLD through its Pathfinders Program, where they gain foundational leadership skills, an understanding of career development strategies, and manage internal professional networks through relationship building skills. Read More LCLD 1L Scholars Program — Nelson Mullins also funds one of its diverse summer associates to participate in the 1L LCLD Scholars Program, designed to strengthen the legal pipeline by expanding opportunities for diverse first-year law students. Georgia law student Sydney Hamer (2020) participated in the program during her summer associateship in the Charleston office. Read More High Potentials Program Nelson Mullins has developed a program that specifically aims to expand the business-development and leadership capabilities of its women attorneys. The Nelson Mullins High Potentials Program is a two-year program for women partners who have been identified by firm leadership based on their legal skills as well as their high business development potential. Read More Lean In Companies continue to report they are highly committed to gender diversity, yet women continue to be vastly underrepresented at every level. For women of color, it’s even worse. Only about one in five senior leaders is a woman, and one in 25 is a woman of color, reports Women in the Workplace 2018, commissioned in part by the LeanIn.org organization. Read More Affinity Groups To create an inclusive – and welcoming – work environment, Nelson Mullins has active affinity groups that represent individuals with similar backgrounds, allowing networking, access to professional and social activities, and opportunities to learn and share leadership skills. Diverse Attorney Affinity Group (DAAG) The Diverse Attorney Affinity Group (DAAG) works to support the professional development and success of the Firm's diverse attorneys while providing resources and tools to aid in their recruitment and retention. Read More LGBTQ+ Affinity and Ally Group The LGBTQ+ Affinity and Ally Group serves as a resource and outreach group for LGBTQ+ attorneys of the firm as well as their allies. The group seeks to cultivate a better understanding of the unique issues facing the LGBTQ+ community, enhance the recruitment and retention of LGBTQ+ employees, and support the professional and social development needs of our LGBTQ+ employees. It is our belief that fostering these goals will create a more welcoming firm. Read More Women's Affinity Group (Women on the Go or "WOGO") These groups work to enhance the recruitment and retention of women attorneys, promote women’s leadership both within and outside of the Firm, and work to foster a better understanding among all of the Firm's attorneys of the unique issues facing women professionals. Read More Scholarships and Recognitions Nelson Mullins is proud to partner with educational programs in our local, statewide, and national communities to provide professional development opportunities for our lawyers and job opportunities for minority law students. We provide scholarships for diverse law students and annually recognize our own employees who go the extra mile to promote a culture of diversity, equity, and inclusion. Diversity Scholarship Program Associates Chelsea Barnes and Bethany Barclay-Adeniyi's introduction to Nelson Mullins began with the firm's Diversity Scholarship Program, a pipeline effort started in 2016 to enrich the firm's diversity and bring in talent. Earning the scholarship in 2017, Chelsea and Bethany now practice in the Winston-Salem and Atlanta offices, where they interned as part of the program. Read More M&A Diversity Externship The Nelson Mullins M&A Diversity Externship Program provides 2L and 3L students from the University of Georgia School of Law with work experience in mergers and acquisitions for academic credit. Chambers USA shortlisted the program for its Diversity & Inclusion Awards in 2019, just a year after the externship's establishment. Read More Diversity Awards Nelson Mullins honors those who embrace a culture of inclusion, equity, and diversity through a series of annual diversity awards, recognizing the efforts by our attorneys who are trying to build a more inclusive and diverse firm and legal profession. Read More What Diversity Means to Me Equity for Women Lawyers Partner Nina Gupta was a member of the first class of Nelson Mullins' High Potentials Program, which promotes a diverse and inclusive Firm life by prioritizing personal and professional development for women lawyers. Resources Current Job Opportunities with Nelson Mullins Our Diversity & Inclusion Statement Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Contacts Patrece Simmons Senior Legal Recruiting and Development Coordinator T 803.255.9205 Katerina (Kat) Y. Taylor Director of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion T 404.322.6465 Diversity Partner Michael A. Brown Partner T 443.392.9401 Diverse Attorney Affinity Group (DAAG) Contacts Suhail Seth Partner T 404.322.6149 Anita Wallace Thomas Partner T 404.322.6030 LGBTQ+ Affinity Contacts Mark T. Clouatre Partner T 303.583.9909 Kevin O. Fogle Associate T 404.322.6285 WOGO Contacts Jennifer A. Jordan Partner T 843.534.4385 Erin Kolmansberger Partner T 305.373.9448 Highlights from the Field The Battle of Hayes Pond and Lessons from the Lumbee November 19, 2021 Marquetta J. Bryan Wins Black Leaders Worth Watching Award October 29, 2021 Highlights of the Firm We use cookies to improve functionality and performance of our website and to provide you with the best possible browsing experience. These cookies include those which are strictly necessary for website operation, as well as those which are used for functionality and performance purposes. For more information on how our Sites use cookies, click here to view our Cookie Policy. 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