Innovator of the Year Finalists: James Lewis and Marissa Mastroianni
The New Jersey Law Journal will honor attorneys and legal professionals at an awards ceremony Oct. 29.
What are some of your proudest achievements in 2023?
While prior to the formal launch of the firm’s specialized DEI Counseling practice, James and Marissa assisted company stakeholders who, despite the US Supreme Court’s June 2023 decision in Students for Fair Admissions, Inc. v. President & Fellows of Harvard College (which led to increased scrutiny of employer DEI efforts), reaffirmed their commitment to their DEI goals. With James and Marissa’s assistance, these clients were able to make further strides in their DEI efforts at a time where many companies pulled back on these efforts.
Additionally, James and Marissa are very proud of the launch of the DEI Counseling practice in December 2023. While many law firms provide advice regarding whether DEI efforts are compliant with applicable employment laws, they saw a true blind spot in the legal market because legal compliance is just one end of the equation. Indeed, businesses were searching for real, practical advice on just how to establish and maintain a successful DEI program. The DEI Counseling practice corrected that blind spot as the team offers clients a holistic legal and practical approach to DEI that can yield real results.
In addition to external initiatives, the firm continued its internal DEI commitment in 2023 through James’ leadership. For example, the firm re-launched its mentorship program with a “Mentoring the Mentors” series informed by DEI professionals leading seminars on best practices around combatting implicit biases and developing feedback loops that foster open communication. Additionally, the firm continued its sponsorship of NJ LEEP, a program for middle and high school students, and the Rutgers Law School Minority Students Program. The firm was proud to be recognized by the Diversity and Flexibility Alliance for having 50% or more women in their 2023 new partner class, which included Marissa.
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As the law continues to evolve on these matters, please note that this article is current as of date and time of publication and may not reflect subsequent developments. The content and interpretation of the issues addressed herein is subject to change. Cole Schotz P.C. disclaims any and all liability with respect to actions taken or not taken based on any or all of the contents of this publication to the fullest extent permitted by law. This is for general informational purposes and does not constitute legal advice or create an attorney-client relationship. Do not act or refrain from acting upon the information contained in this publication without obtaining legal, financial and tax advice. For further information, please do not hesitate to reach out to your firm contact or to any of the attorneys listed in this publication.
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