Lewis Brisbois Providence Office Featured in PBN Article on Diversity Initiatives

Providence, R.I. (December 9, 2022) - Lewis Brisbois’ Providence office was recently featured in a Providence Business News (PBN) article about diversity initiatives at the firm. The piece follows on the firm recently receiving the publication’s 2022 Diversity & Inclusion Award, which recognizes local organizations' commitment to promoting and enhancing diversity and inclusion in the workplace. Lewis Brisbois was honored alongside fellow award recipients from other industries at PBN’s 2022 Diversity & Inclusion Summit and Awards program on December 1.

Managing Partner Lauren Motola-Davis, who joined Lewis Brisbois' Providence office in 2015, spoke about her goal of building a diverse team when she took over her new position.

“We have a diverse culture,” said Ms. Motola-Davis about the Providence office, which currently has 11 attorneys and six staff members. “Different attorneys and staff bring different qualities.”

PBN highlighted Lewis Brisbois’ success in the Mansfield Rule 5.0 certification program this year, which requires businesses to ensure at least 30% of candidates for leadership roles come from underrepresented groups. As the article mentions, the firm is now actively working toward the Mansfield Rule 6.0 certification.

Ms. Motola Davis, who is an active member of the Lewis Brisbois' Women’s Initiative, also spoke about her personal mentorship within the firm, especially for younger women attorneys entering the legal profession. “I consider myself a role model for younger women,” she said. “It’s a tough and demanding career but rewarding.”

Chief Diversity Officer Rima Badawiya also spoke with PBN about how mentorship plays a big role in the firm’s diversity and inclusion initiatives. Ms. Badawiya noted that the firm's Summer Associate Diversity Fellowship focuses on partners mentoring young lawyers so “they have someone to talk to and help them navigate through the practice-of-law process.” She also described working through the challenge of retaining lawyers and staff in light of the COVID-19 pandemic’s disruptions to the workplace environment.

“We’re not just paying lip service to the ideals but actually living the reality with our actions,” Ms. Badawiya said. “We can talk but without meaningful action, it’s not meaningful. It’s a journey, not a destination. That’s what we do here, and we’re proud of that.”

Read the full PBN article here (subscription may be required).