The Leadership Council on Legal Diversity (LCLD) has honored Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough LLP with both its Compass Award and Top Performers Award for 2020 because of the firm’s “continued commitment to building more diverse organizations and a more inclusive profession,” according to the organization. Nelson Mullins is one of 18 law firms to earn both recognitions.

The Top Performer award recognizes those organizations in the top 20% for participation in LCLD programs and activities. The Compass Award recognizes those individuals and organizations that fulfill all of the following requirements in a calendar year:

• Managing Partner attendance at the Annual Meeting of members
• Participation in the LCLD Fellows Program
• Participation in the LCLD Pathfinder Program
• Participation in an LCLD Pipeline Program (the 1L Scholars Program or the Success in Law School Mentoring Program)

Managing Partner Jim Lehman in 2015 joined the LCLD, an organization of more than 350 corporate chief legal officers and law firm managing partners whose mission is to create a truly diverse U.S. legal profession. Since then, the firm has selected six attorneys to participate in LCLD’s landmark yearlong Fellows Program to maximize the potential of diverse attorneys and develop networks of diverse colleagues.

Additionally, Nelson Mullins participates in the LCLD Pathfinders Program, designed to help younger, diverse attorneys with personal and professional growth, and funds LCLD 1L Scholars, which provides opportunities for diverse first-year law students.

The firm has had an active Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Committee for more than a decade and has championed diversity through the creation of affinity groups and the appointment of two Diversity Partners charged with leading the effort to develop, mentor, retain, and promote diverse and female attorneys within practice groups. The firm encourages participation in the internal Diverse Attorney Affinity Group, the Women's Affinity Group, and the LGBTQ+ Affinity and Ally Group. The firm also has career-based internal initiatives such as the High Potentials Program, which provides high potential women attorneys with executive leadership and business development coaching and senior level sponsors. Click here for more information on the firm’s diversity initiatives.

Established in 1897, Nelson Mullins has more than 800 attorneys and government relations professionals with offices in 11 states and Washington, D.C. Click here for more information on the firm.