The Minority Corporate Counsel Association (MCCA) has named WilmerHale the winner of its prestigious 2024 Thomas L. Sager Award, which recognizes law firms that champion a more diverse and inclusive workforce. The award is named after DuPont Senior Vice President and General Counsel, Thomas L. Sager, who is a driving force for improving the hiring, retention, promotion and involvement of minorities and women.

MCCA determines the categorical honorees for the Sager Award based on its US Law Firm Diversity Survey, which is the longest-standing diversity survey in the legal industry.Through the survey, they gather insights about law firm demographics, leadership composition and the hiring, retention and promotion of diverse lawyers. WilmerHale is a Category 5 winner, which includes large firms with 650+ lawyers.

Managing Partner Anjan Sahni shared when accepting the award “At WilmerHale, we firmly believe that diversity, equity and inclusion are not just buzzwords, but foundational principles that shape our identity as a law firm. We acknowledge the significance of data. However, we also realize that diversity, equity and inclusion extend beyond numbers and statistics. It involves cultivating an environment of belonging, where every individual is encouraged to bring their authentic selves to the table and contribute to our collective success.”

WilmerHale’s dedication to diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) starts at the top and extends to the entire firm community. Sahni chairs the Executive Diversity and Inclusion Committee, which includes many of the firm’s most influential lawyers. The firm supports professional development and inclusion for all through mentorships, affinity groups and internal fellowships and workshops, among other efforts.

WilmerHale strives for a diverse, equitable and inclusive environment because it benefits everyone: the clients, the lawyers and business professionals and the legal profession.

The Sager Award joins a growing list of recognitions WilmerHale has received for its commitment to fostering diversity, equity and inclusion in the legal profession. In 2024, the firm has been:

• Honored with a 2024 Top Performer and Compass Award by the Leadership Council on Legal Diversity; 
• Named to Bloomberg Law’s 2024 Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Framework;
• Named a Best Law Firm for Women & Diversity by Seramount;
• Named to Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly’s Empowering Women list in 2024;
• Honored with T-Mobile’s Excellence in Diversity Award; and
• Honored with the Partners in Diversity Award from the South Asian Bar Association of New York.