Diversity Track Record

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Milestones & Honors

While Plunkett Cooney celebrates a number of achievements in diversity, we still have work to do in order to create a truly inclusive environment within the firm. Noted below are highlights of some of our accomplishments. Our diversity effort continues with enthusiasm.

2024

2023

2022

  • Michigan Lawyers Weekly names Senior Attorney Sandra Densham to its 2022 Class of Influential Women in the Law.
  • Director of Diversity & Inclusion Laurel McGiffert named by Savoy magazine as one of the nation's Most Influential Black Lawyers.

2021

  • Plunkett Cooney joins international group of law firms seeking Mansfield Rule Certification for diversity and inclusion.
  • Senior Attorney Claudia Orr named by Michigan Lawyers Weekly to its 2021 Class of Women in the Law.
  • Partner Courtney Nichols selected by Michigan Lawyers Weekly as one of its 2021 Go-To Lawyers in the area of employment law
  • Director of Diversity & Inclusion Laurel McGiffert named by Michigan Lawyers Weekly to its 2021 Hall of Fame class.
  • Partner Christina Corl named co-chair of the Diversity, Equity, Inclusion (DEI) Champions program at her alma mater Western Michigan University Cooley Law School.

2020

  • Banking law and commercial liability attorney Lisa Hall selected as one of Michigan Lawyers Weekly's 2020 Women in the Law.

2019

2018

  • Firm names partner Laurel McGiffert its first Director of Diversity and Inclusion.
  • Michigan Lawyers Weekly names insurance coverage attorney Elaine Pohl among its 2018 Women in the Law.
  • National Law Journal names Plunkett Cooney among the top law firms nationally for female diversity for third consecutive year.

2017

2016

  • Michigan Lawyers Weekly names Carolyn Jereck among its featured "Women in the Law" for 2016.
  • National Law Journal names Plunkett Cooney among the top law firms nationally for female diversity.

2015

  • Laurel McGiffert named by Michigan Lawyers Weekly as one of its 2015 "Women in the Law."

2013

2012

  • DRI - The Voice of the Defense Bar creates the Mary Massaron Award for the Advancement of Women in the Profession.
  • National Law Journal ranks Plunkett Cooney 13th out of 250 of the nation's law firms for the highest percentage of female equity partners (22.35%)
  • Audrey Forbush named among the Michigan Lawyers Weekly 2012 "Women in the Law."

2009

2008

  • First female African American elected to firm’s board of directors
  • Multicultural Law magazine names Plunkett Cooney to its list of "Top Law Firms for Diversity."

2007

  • First African American elected to firm’s board of directors

2006

  • First African American practice group leader named
  • Mandatory diversity training for all employees
  • Plunkett Cooney launches Women’s Initiative for attorney development

2005

  • First female elected chair of firm’s board of directors
  • Firm chairman among featured corporate leaders at Thomas M. Cooley Law School panel discussion
    on diversity in the legal profession
  • MultiCultural Law Magazine names Plunkett Cooney among its Top 100 Law Firms for Diversity

2004

  • Firm issues first formal diversity plan

2003

  • Board of directors approves firm’s diversity statement

2002

  • Diversity committee formed
  • First female department leader named

1994

  • Firm publishes its professional objectives among which the firm states that it “will be vigilant to recruit the finest professional staff based upon merit, talent and ability. In that process, we will bring to our firm men and women of diverse racial, ethnic and religious backgrounds.”

1991

  • First female African American shareholder named

1987

  • First female shareholder named office managing attorney

1983

  • First African American shareholder named

1978

  • First female attorney promoted to shareholder

1967

  • First African American attorney hired