“Fellows go through training to improve their skills as professionals,” notes 2018 Fellow Carmen Harper Thomas. “The training is more about maximizing the potential of lawyers and to develop their networks.” Events occur for Fellows to continue to network and grow after the Fellowship year ends. 

“Learning Experiences” takes Fellows into the headquarters of a corporate member, where they discuss the company’s business model and hear directly from management on why diversity in the legal profession is important to them. Atlanta partner Sanjay Ghosh, a 2017 participant, spent his Learning Experience at one of the nation’s largest retailers, which included a panel discussion among management from other equally large entities. 

“Not only did I learn some incredible viewpoints from the top attorneys at top U.S. corporations, but I was able to meet and engage several new Fellows and build upon established relationships with them. This program creates strong bonds among the participants, and I expect to establish relationships with diverse colleagues around the country that will last throughout my career. This was a richly rewarding and valuable experience for me,” he said.  

Alexandra Moylan, Dennis Hom, Katherine Lawler,  Lucie Cohen, Sally Caver, and Amanda Kitts also are past participants. 

Columbia partner Donna Tillis says the LCLD Pathfinders program establishes a platform that allows for an organic development of professional relationships. The enrichment provided by the program is unmatched—the substantive modules and podcasts provide a practical and targeted approach to professional and leadership growth, she said.

“The program also challenges Pathfinders to face the tough issues that impact the legal professional and their own personal career and to develop a strategy for overcoming them. I am pleased that Nelson Mullins is a LCLD member that supports the Pathfinders program. It’s truly a win-win.”

 Senior associate Amy Cheng adds, “LCLD helped hone my professional development skills while providing me with a community full of members who have supported my endeavors. I will         forever remain grateful to Nelson Mullins for selecting me to participate in such an amazing program.”

Shaniqua Singleton, Frances Kim, Maria Penuela, and Daniela Ferro, also are past participants.

"It was the best experience I had in law school," she said. "We were grouped with other students working at law firms in our region and separated into groups based on practice area interests, allowing us to build connections with people we were likely to come into contact with when we begin practicing."

Among the program benefits, she said, she learned soft skills, specifically communication skills not taught in law school. "The program was a great opportunity to learn how to become an effective and productive associate."

Those participating work closely with senior “rainmaker” sponsors, an internal marketing coach, and an external executive coach to affirm their personal brands and interaction styles, raise their internal and external profiles, develop client opportunities, and expand leadership capabilities.

“Being identified by firm leadership as an attorney with great business development and leadership potential gave me real confidence to push the bounds of my comfort zone and seek out highly visible speaking opportunities. Those opportunities, in turn, led to more client pitch opportunities and assignments, as well as invitations to serve in leadership roles onfirm committees,” said Atlanta partner Brandee Kowalzyk, a member of the first class.

Members of our first class of participants want to share their experiences with others. Click here to view their videos. 

“This group is an indication of Nelson Mullins’ desire and commitment to offer an inclusive and welcoming environment for all of its employees, including lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and questioning employees,” notes Denver Managing Partner Mark Clouatre, who chairs the group. “It is important to include members of all ethnicities, genders, disabilities, and orientations and to acknowledge and appreciate the issues important to each group. Through our work, we can promote the culture of the firm and improve client service through diverse viewpoints.”

The group holds local networking and discussion events and actively participates in and supports community-related groups such as the National LGBT Bar Association.

“My WOGO group has inspired me to start a conversation with the women I work with to find out what they want to accomplish personally and professionally and what I can do to help raise them up,” says Ginger Boyd, a leader of the Tallahassee office WOGO group.

Chelsea, who practices with the healthcare team in Winston-Salem, says the program affirmed her vocation as an attorney. “At the end of the summer, I returned to my law school knowing that I wanted to work at Nelson Mullins because it was evident to me that the attorneys I would be working with would invest in me and enable me to reach my fullest potential as a new associate," Chelsea said. "Earning the Nelson Mullins Scholarship helped to lighten the burden of my student loans during my 3L year and exemplified the firm’s tangible commitment to not only my success, but also the firm’s efforts to ensure that the attorneys who work here reflect the rich diversity of the world we live in.”

Bethany practices in Atlanta with the firm’s Emerging Growth and Venture Capital team, which has garnered global and national honors. “I chose to return as an associate because it is rare to find colleagues that invest in the success of their associates, while also cultivating an atmosphere of excellence and collegiality,” Bethany said. “Nelson Mullins not only strives to be a diverse firm, but actually puts plans into action to achieve this goal.”

Nelson Mullins' Scholarship Program is open to 2L law students and is primarily designed to increase the number of law students interested in summer and long-term employment with Nelson Mullins. "The Scholarship Program is an important tool to help us attract the talent we need to continue to grow and innovate," managing partner Jim Lehman said.

Awardees receive a $10,000 scholarship and a salaried summer associate position at one of the firm’s offices. The selection process coincides with Nelson Mullins’ regular summer associate recruiting process.

Philicia Armbrister, Nelson Mullins' first externship recipient and a native of the Bahamas, says she gained valuable experience in the program. “Having the opportunity to be selected as an extern has allowed me to understand American law and the different structures of how firms operate in the U.S. Every project I’ve worked on has been a learning experience,” she said.

During the fall and spring semesters, externs work side by side with Atlanta attorneys from Nelson Mullins’ Corporate Group and gain exposure to the entire M&A process as they become involved in a variety of matters related to a transaction. Externs must have an expressed interest in the advancement of under-represented lawyers in the M&A field. To date, the program has hosted three externs.

Sheryl Ortmann Diversity Award — Named after Nelson Mullins' first woman partner, this is bestowed on attorneys who make real changes promoting diversity in the firm and the legal profession. Recent winners:

• 2009 — Inaugural award recipient was Sheryl Ortmann, the first woman attorney and partner who also helped open and manage the Greenville office.
• 2011 — Wade Malone, who helped develop the Atlanta Bar Association Summer Law Internship program to provide meaningful work experiences for students who otherwise would not have them.
• 2012 — David Dukes, who, as firm managing partner, championed the establishment of a diversity, equity, and inclusion committee and development of diversity policies and initiatives.
• 2013 — Richard North, who was recognized for one of the most widely diverse teams in the firm–ethnically, racially, by gender, and religion.
• 2014 — Sara Turnipseed & Steve Morrison (posthumous). Sara, who was the firm’s first woman to sit on the Executive Committee, and Steve both made diversity and inclusion a priority in hiring.
• 2015 — Glenn Brock, a former partner who, among other things, emphasized diversity and inclusiveness as core values in putting together a diverse team to work for clients.
• 2016 — Art Coleman, for recrafting the firm’s diversity, equity, and inclusion mission and building a diverse team.
• 2017 — Donna Lewis (posthumous), who mentored young attorneys and worked to promote a more diverse law firm.
• 2018 — Suhail Seth, a former partner who organized Diversity and Inclusion GC Roundtable events in Atlanta.
• 2019 — Deborah St. Lawrence Thompson, who teaches, provides opportunities for, and champions women and diverse lawyers.
• 2020 — Mark Clouatre, who created and leads the LGBTQ+ Affinity and Ally Group.
• 2021 — Charles Huddleston, who has devoted a great deal of his life and career to make diversity, equity, and inclusion a reality at Nelson Mullins and throughout the state of Georgia.
• 2022 — Anita Thomas, for her tireless advocacy, mentorship, and sponsorship to dozens of lawyers and for exemplifying how each of us can and should make the time to make a difference in the lives of others.
• 2023 — Jenny Jordan, who won for having been a very active participant in diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives for many years, including in her service as chair of the Paralegal Committee, her time spent as a partner in the Charleston office, her leadership in the Women on the Go (WOGO) Affinity Group, and as an active member of the DEI steering committee.

Sara Turnipseed "Women on the Go" — This award recognizes attorneys and policy advisors who promote the success of women in the legal profession, honoring the late partner Sara Turnipseed and her tireless commitment to gender equity. Recent winners:

• 2015 (inaugural award) — Holly Hempel, a team leader for a predominately female team who is the “go-to” person for young women in the Atlanta office.
• 2016 — Christina Jacuzzo, a former partner who mentored and assisted other female attorneys at all stages of their careers.
• 2017 — Melissa Foster Bird, who advocated for more opportunities and advancement of women lawyers.
• 2018 — Sue Stoffer, who worked on numerous firm initiatives including the High Potentials Program, Lean In, and the Women’s Affinity Groups.
• 2019 — Amanda Norcross, a former partner who created professional and business development opportunities for female attorneys and creating an externship in her group for a student to spend a semester at the firm and receive college credit.
• 2020 — Ginger Barry Boyd, who is an excellent female leader and mentor to other female attorneys.
• 2021 — Carmen Thomas, who in her leadership roles prioritizes initiatives surrounding the recruitment, retainment, and advancement of women and diverse lawyers.
• 2022 — Erin Kolmansberger, who is a clear and staunch supporter of women, a resource for young female attorneys and a founder of Women in FinTech (WinFin).
• 2023 — Shaniqua Singleton, who was nominated for her devotion to the success of women at Nelson Mullins. She is actively involved in the DEI Committee and the WOGO Affinity Group, and she also serves as a leader in Bridge-Together, the Black attorney affinity group. She supports the firm’s new female associates with her mentorship.

Early Start Award — This award honors those who promote inclusion, equity, and diversity in the profession early in their careers. 

• 2019 — Donna Tillis, who maintains relationships with professors at the University of South Carolina School of Law to help recruit diverse candidates and is a liaison to the Black Law Students Association at the school.
• 2020 – Sean Worley, who actively engaged the members and executive director of the United States Congressional LGBTQ Equality Caucus to help the caucus advance its mission. 
• 2021 – Amber M. Hendrick, who won for her untiring commitment to racial equity both within and outside of the firm with recruiting at Historically Black law schools, developing programming for members to discuss DEI issues, and organizing the SC Bar’s Lawyers Standing Against Racial Injustice walk and die-in.
• 2022 — Chelsea Barnes, who challenges the narrative every day through her unwavering commitment to equity and justice for all, including her advocacy for Native Americans and particularly her tribe, the Lumbee Tribe, her successful defense of a BLM protester in early 2022, her other pro bono commitments, and her service on multiple nonprofit boards.
• 2023 — Madison Guyton, who volunteered herself for diversity efforts, including leading one of the most important WOGO subcommittees, programming. With guidance from senior leaders, Guyton spearheaded programming initiatives and calls in 2022.

Other initiatives

• Nelson Mullins partners with Claflin University (a Historically Black College and University in Orangeburg, SC) for pre-law scholarships.

• The firm participates in the Atlanta Bar Association’s Minority Clerkship Program, which places minority first-year students from Georgia law schools with several large law firms in the Atlanta area.

• The firm has collaborated with clients and a local chapter of the Association of Corporate Counsel to support Street Law Inc.’s legal diversity pipeline program initiatives, working with local high schools to enhance the awareness of opportunities within the legal profession and culminating with a hosted workshop at our office. We have also sponsored NJ LEEP’s Diversity Gala (New Jersey Law and Education Empowerment — a college access and success program).

• The firm encourages its attorneys to become involved in local and national diversity organizations. Firm attorneys hold and have held officer and leadership positions in such organizations as the Colorado LGBT Bar Foundation; the Gay, Lesbian, Straight Education Network, the ABA’s Women Rainmakers Committee, the State Bar of Georgia’s Diversity Program, the Korean American Bar Association, the Asian Pacific American Bar Association, the Georgia Association of Black Women Attorneys, the Cuban American Bar Association, the Japanese American Bar Association, the Leadership Institute for Women of Color Attorneys, and more.