Law Firms
Goodwin Procter ends agreement with recruiter who called its diversity decisions ‘shameful’
The founder of a legal recruiting company has said Goodwin Procter has ended its placement compensation agreement with the company, and the reason appears to be his criticism of the law firm on social media. (Photo from Shutterstock)
Updated: The founder of a legal recruiting company has said Goodwin Procter has ended its placement compensation agreement with the company, and the reason appears to be his criticism of the law firm on social media.
The criticism concerned Goodwin Procter’s reported decision to sever its relationship with several diversity organizations.
“This is shameful,” said Bryson Malcolm, a recruiter and founder of Mosaic Search Partners, in a LinkedIn post.
Now, Goodwin Procter has ended its contract with the recruiter, Malcolm said last week on LinkedIn.
Law.com and Bloomberg Law reported on the developments.
Malcolm’s critical post cited a report by Bloomberg Law that Goodwin Procter reportedly ended or suspended its relationships with several diversity programs.
They include a legal fellowship pipeline program by Sponsors for Educational Opportunity, a nonprofit organization, and a diversity goal program by Diversity Lab, a group that works with firms to increase diversity, called “Mansfield Certification.” Goodwin Procter is also reportedly suspending its relationship with the Leadership Council on Legal Diversity, which sponsors a diversity hiring program.
Goodwin Procter reportedly disclosed the changes in a letter to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, which sought information from 20 firms about their diversity programs, Bloomberg Law had reported.
Law.com and Bloomberg Law reported on another possible reason for Goodwin Procter ending its contract—Mosaic Search Partners’ letters to firm attorneys that it regarded as solicitations.
“Goodwin just ended its participation in Mansfield Certification, LCLD and SEO (reporting from Bloomberg Law),” the Mosaic Search Partners email said. “This is not normal, and Goodwin is the first firm to publicly do this. Feel free to reach out if you ever want to chat.”
Malcolm acknowledged in interviews with the publications that he had emailed some of the firm’s attorneys about Goodwin Procter’s withdrawal from the programs but said his agreement with Goodwin Procter allowed him to do so.
“I was making the attorneys aware of what had happened, and there is no language in there that suggests anything else,” he told Law.com.
Mosaic Search Partners is “owned and operated by individuals from historically underrepresented backgrounds,” according to its website.
Goodwin Procter’s managing director of communications did not immediately respond to an ABA Journal email seeking comment. A Goodwin Procter representative did not comment to Law.com in response to its request.
Updated June 3 at 2:02 p.m. to include contents of Mosaic Search Partners email.
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