Law firm Munck Wilson Mandala and three attorneys have made the shortlist for the upcoming Chambers Diversity and Inclusion Awards: North America 2020. These awards celebrate the achievements of firms and individuals who are furthering the advancement of diversity and inclusion across the USA and Canada. The final winners will be announced on Sep. 24, 2020, during the virtual event that shines a spotlight on role models and trailblazers who have improved diversity and inclusion in the legal industry.
MWM is on the shortlist for Outstanding Firm for Furthering Diversity and Inclusion and Inclusive Firm of the Year. MWM’s managing partner William A. Munck is shortlisted for Outstanding Contribution. MWM partner Amanda Greenspon is shortlisted for Outstanding Ally Award and MWM associate Tasha Schwikert is shortlisted for Future Leader – Diversity and Inclusion.
Munck is known for making pointed efforts to name and develop female leadership at all levels of MWM to address the historically low numbers of women in leadership roles in law firms. Under Munck’s direction, MWM served as title sponsor and brought a diversity and inclusion/women’s empowerment conference to Dallas in 2018 and 2019. The events were designed to support the female and male leaders of corporate diversity initiatives truly committed to growing, retaining, and advancing women and gender equality both in and outside the organization.
Both events drew North Texas leaders, speakers, sponsors, and attendees together in a collaborative environment where keynote speeches and panel discussions educated, informed and inspired attendees. An added benefit of the events was the collective work done inside the firm as male, female, and minority attorneys worked together to develop the program and bring clients and friends of the firm on board.
These D&I events allowed MWM to meet two female partners at other firms – one who was originally a panelist and another who was an attendee. Both were impressed by how MWM subverted the “traditional” law firm trope. They were especially impressed with Munck’s encouragement, support, and sponsorship of his female attorneys and staff, enough so that within a year, both joined MWM.
MWM’s other efforts in diversity and inclusion have resulted in improved numbers of female and minority attorneys each year since 2017. The firm currently has 40 percent female attorneys and 17 percent minority attorneys. Munck’s solid approach to diversity and inclusion has always been to give employees an inclusive, open, and respectful environment where they can grow personally and professionally, and the numbers support his efforts.
Greenspon is the director of trademark/copyright/soft IP for the firm, and she is considered a champion of diversity and inclusion initiatives, having served in a large role in the planning and coordination of the firm’s D&I-focused events. She is now leading efforts to grow the firm brand east in the Miami area.
As a former Olympic gymnast, Schwikert became an advocate for institutional change within USA Gymnastics and the United States Olympic Committee. Her passion motivated her to attend law school in her late 20s and she now serves as co-chair of the special committee for over 500 Larry Nassar survivors. Schwikert is among those survivors. At MWM, Schwikert works as an associate in the corporate practice, and she is one of the leading lawyers helping to build the firm’s sports law practice and assist with D&I initiatives.
Munck Wilson Mandala is a technology-focused law firm with offices in Dallas, Austin and Marshall, Texas, and Los Angeles, California. The firm offers full-service counsel in the areas of intellectual property litigation, complex commercial litigation, intellectual property portfolio development, corporate transactions and securities, and employment law. Munck Wilson Mandala represents clients from start-ups to Fortune 50 companies. Learn more about the firm at http://www.munckwilson.com.
