DIVERSITY - DELIVERING ON OUR PROMISE

MBT is committed to attracting and retaining a diverse mix of attorneys and staff, believing that diversity enhances our work experience and invaluably supports our ability to provide the insight and innovation in legal counsel that our clients expect. The firm actively seeks to tap a diverse pool of legal and administrative talent, encourages creativity and individuality, and endeavors to help all our personnel build their skills and achieve their career goals. Inclusion, attorney development, flexibility, accountability and participation drive MBT’s diversity efforts.

INCLUSION

MBT nurtures an environment that acknowledges individual perspectives and contributions, respects differences, and strives to identify and capitalize on individuals’ unique talents and experiences. To learn more about the unique talents of our attorneys, please click here. We have a mentorship program that matches newer attorneys with seasoned veterans and incorporates mentoring activities designed to strengthen inclusivity and the sense of belonging and to enhance each individual’s ability to realize career goals.

DEVELOPMENT & AWARENESS

In addition to attracting diverse talent, MBT is dedicated to developing its attorneys, both as litigators and as good legal citizens. To that end, MBT offers quarterly skills-building courses for all associate attorneys and each practice group at MBT holds monthly business development meetings that include even the most junior attorneys in these conversations about establishing and growing a practice. In addition, MBT recently launched an annual seminar program devoted to diversity-related topics. The seminar program is designed to maintain the highest level of awareness about the benefits of having diverse and all-encompassing viewpoints to the legal profession.

FLEXIBILITY

MBT understands that achieving a work-life balance is the cornerstone of maintaining job satisfaction throughout the firm, which, in turn, allows the firm achieve its goal of providing outstanding service to our clients. Therefore, we foster flexible work arrangements to address individual needs, including caregiving responsibilities of all types, without sacrificing consistent top-notch service to our clients.

ACCOUNTABILITY

To oversee these programs and continuously monitor the firm’s culture, MBT has a Diversity Committee, itself comprised of a diverse mix of partners and associates. The Committee meets regularly, strives to identify potential barriers to inclusivity and individual success, and regularly communicates with all of our lawyers and practice groups to recommend measures supporting the firm’s diversity commitment.

PARTICIPATION

MBT also realizes the value of external activities in promoting diversity, and regularly partners with diverse professional groups and client-supported diversity initiatives. One example of which we are most proud has been our involvement as an original signature and ongoing participant in the Chicago Bar Association Alliance for Women’s “Call to Action.” We also support the efforts of members of our firm who are leaders of, and active participants in, organizations such as:

• American Bar Association Committee on Women and Minorities
• Black Women Lawyers Association of Greater Chicago
• Cook County Bar Association
• Indian American Bar Association of Chicago
• Korean American Bar Association
• National Asian Pacific American Bar Association
• National Association of Women Business Owners
• North American South Asian Bar Association
• Women’s Bar Association of Illinois
• Dallas Hispanic Bar Association