SOUTHFIELD, Mich. – Brooks Kushman Shareholder Sangeeta Shah was quoted in an article, “New Midsize Mansfield Rule Puts Firms’ Diversity Intentions to the Test.” The article discusses the Diversity Lab Midsize Mansfield Rule, which is a new certification for midsized law firms that aims to promote diversity through metric tracking and goal-based diversity programming over the course of 18 months.
In the article, Shah reviews the benefits of the Midsize Mansfield Rule and how it has helped Brooks Kushman move the needle on our diversity efforts. Shah notes, “the nice thing with the Mansfield certification is it forces kind of an all-hands-on-deck approach. When you’ve gone through an 18-month cycle of that, you’ve changed the intentionality.” She also discusses how the firm’s involvement in the certification program has not only helped Brooks Kushman change its diversity stats on paper but, through purposeful action, has changed the firm’s culture and made it a more inclusive place to work.
Shah is the CEO of Brooks Kushman, responsible for leading the firm’s Executive Committee. In addition to serving as the CEO, Shah maintains an active docket as an IP practitioner with over 20 years of experience in managing patent portfolios, PTAB matters, patent litigation and opinions. Shah works closely with several Fortune 500 clients for whom she provides strategic counseling and guidance on global intellectual property portfolios. Her patent expertise has resulted in national recognition from Managing IP, Best Lawyers, IAM, AIPLA and the PTAB Bar Association.
Prior to becoming CEO, Shah served as the firm’s Chief Diversity Officer. In that position, she developed and implemented a range of diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives within and outside of the firm through outreach programs and partnerships. Under her leadership, the firm was recognized in 2018 and 2019 by ChIPs and Diversity Lab as a national Honor Roll Firm for its dedication to advancing diversity and inclusion. Shah also hosts the Breaking Mindsets podcast where she interviews leaders who defy expectations and have accomplished great change in their field.
Throughout her career, Shah has spearheaded outreach initiatives, including founding Retooling Detroit a non-profit which focuses on giving children in the Detroit Public Schools individualized phonics instruction to bridge the literacy divide. At the national and international level, Shah has been heavily involved in organizations such as ChIPs, for whom she helped found the Chicago regional chapter, Corporate Counsel Women of Color (CCWC), the Leadership Council on Legal Diversity (LCLD) and American Intellectual Property Association (AIPLA).
The full Law.com article can be found here.
About Brooks Kushman P.C.
Brooks Kushman P.C. is a premier intellectual property (IP) and technology law firm dedicated to the advancement and protection of innovations and brands that propel businesses around the world. With offices in Michigan and California, we work alongside corporations, small to medium sized businesses, and leading universities to protect their intellectual property assets. Our attorneys have a broad range of experience in industries and technologies, including consumer electronics, manufacturing, medical device, computer technology, aerospace, chemicals, biotechnology, and retail.
Brooks Kushman counts a number of Fortune 100 companies across a variety of industries among its clients. The firm is also recognized by leading legal publications and rankings, including Corporate Counsel magazine, U.S. News & World Report, Law360, Intellectual Asset Management, Managing Intellectual Property, and Intellectual Property Today. For more information, please visit www.BrooksKushman.com.
