Since the inception of FordHarrison's diversity plan in 2006, we have made significant strides and are receiving recognition from professional organizations, clients and publications. The organizations and publications that have recently honored FordHarrison are listed below along with the awards we have received.
Leadership Council on Legal Diversity Member
FordHarrison is a member of the Leadership Council on Legal Diversity (LCLD), a growing organization of more than 220 corporate chief legal officers and law firm managing partners who are personally committed to creating a truly diverse legal profession. FordHarrison has appointed an attorney to serve as the annual LCLD fellow each year since 2015 and appointed our first LCLD pathfinder in 2020.
LCLD Fellows
- Destiny Washington, a counsel in the firm's Atlanta office is FordHarrison's 2020 Diversity Fellow;
- Tim Reed, a partner in the firm's San Francisco office is FordHarrison's 2019 Diversity Fellow;
- Patrick Ryan, a partner in the firm's Atlanta office is FordHarrison's 2018 Diversity Fellow;
- Kristin Gray, a partner in the firm's Spartanburg office was FordHarrison's 2017 Diversity Fellow;
- David Kim, a partner in the firm's Berkeley Heights and New York offices was FordHarrison's 2016 Diversity Fellow; and
- Lavern Wilson, a partner in the firm's Tampa office who now serves as the firm's Talent and Recruiting Partner, was FordHarrison's first LCLD Diversity Fellow in 2015.
LCLD Pathfinders
- Fabian Ruiz, a senior associate in the firm's Miami office is FordHarrison's first 2020 Diversity Pathfinder.
National Law Journal 2020 Women's Scorecard
The National Law Journal listed FordHarrison as number six on its 2020 Women's Scorecard, a part of the NLJ 500 firm head count report. The firm was also listed as number six in the top 25 firms for minority female partners.
Law360
In its 2020 Glass Ceiling Report, Law360 ranked FordHarrison tenth for law firms with 101-250 attorneys. In the report, Law360 compares law firms of a similar size on two straightforward measures: the percentage of female attorneys at the firm and the percentage of female equity partners. FordHarrison's percentage of female attorneys is 44% and FordHarrison's equity partnership is 31 percent female.
In its 2019 Glass Ceiling Report, Law360 ranked FordHarrison sixth on the "Best Law Firms for Female Attorneys" list among firms with 50-149 lawyers, and tenth on the "The Best Law Firms for Female Partners" list among firms with 50-149 lawyers.
The 2018 Law360 Diversity Snapshot ranked FordHarrison the #6 "Best Firms For Minority Equity Partners" among firms with 150-299 attorneys as well as a "Best Law Firms for Minority Attorneys" based on the firm's minority representation at the partner and non-partner levels and its total number of minority attorneys.
In recent years, Law360 has listed FordHarrison as one of the:
- "The Best Firms for Women and Minority Attorneys" one of 18 firms recognized for above-average representation of both women and minorities at every level (2017).
- "The Best Law Firms for Minority Partners" - ranked #7 in the 150-299 attorneys category (2017).
- "100 Best Law Firms For Female Attorneys" - ranked number 22 (2016).
- Law360 "Ceiling Smashers," one of 25 firms who have made significant strides toward gender equality at the highest ranks (2016).
Women Leaders Forum Awarded Top 10 Innovations in Diversity

The Profiles in Diversity Journal's awarded the firm's Women Leaders Forum a Top 10 recognition for their 16th Annual Innovation in Diversity Awards. The emerging focus of all award recipients is an alignment of diversity and inclusion with business goals in the workplace and marketplace. In their 22nd year, the Innovation in Diversity Awards generated a wide-range of unique applicants from businesses and organizations around the world. All winning innovations were featured in the December 2019 Edition of Profiles in Diversity Journal. To see the recognition, please click here.
Diversity Journal's 2020 Diversity Teams Award
In its Spring 2020 issue, Profiles in Diversity Journal recognized FordHarrison with its 2020 Diversity Teams Award for the progress that the firm's diversity and inclusion team has achieved.
Litigation Counsel of America Diversity Partner
FordHarrison is recognized as a Diversity Partner by the Litigation Counsel of America (LCA). To qualify for this designation, a law firm must have a minimum of four attorneys recognized as Fellows by the Litigation Counsel of America.
Individuals within our firm are also receiving recognition. Some of the recent individual awards our attorneys have received are listed below.
Profiles in Diversity Journal "Women Worth Watching"
The Profiles in Diversity Journal's annual "Women Worth Watching" list is published each year to feature the accomplishments of women from a variety of industries throughout the U.S. FordHarrison is honored to have had many of our women attorneys selected for "Women Worth Watching". To see our full list of "Women Worth Watching" designees, please click here.
Profiles in Diversity Journal "Black Leaders Worth Watching"
In 2020, Atlanta counsel Destiny Washington was featured in The Profiles in Diversity Journal's inaugural "Black Leaders Worth Watching" list. The profiles that appear in this important edition recognize and celebrate confident, determined, high-performing, purpose-driven professionals who create value for their coworkers, customers, community, and of course the organizations where they contribute their talents. Read full press release here.
National Diversity Council
The National Diversity Council (NDC) was established in 2008 and is a national organization, comprised of state and regional councils, that cultivates diversity and inclusion in workplaces and communities throughout the country and recognizes the achievements of those working in their communities to advance diversity and inclusion. In 2016, Vista Lyons was named to the NDC's "Top 15 Business Women in Dallas" list at the 2016 Dallas Women's Conference. For more information on the other FordHarrison attorneys who have been recognized by the NDC and its regional councils, please see our Additional Firm and Individual Recognitions.
Lawyers of Color:
- In 2014, Atlanta partner Geetha Adinata was named the "Hot List" for the Southern Region.
Executive Women of the Palm Beaches:
- Christine D. Hanley, managing partner of the firm's West Palm Beach office, was selected as the recipient of the 2014 Women in Leadership Award in the Private Sector.