Diversity in MDL Leadership Appointments Webinar - Presented by Postlethwaite & Netterville

In April 2021, top class action practitioners and members of the judiciary gathered for the 3rd annual Western Alliance Bank Class Action Law Forum™, held in collaboration with the University of San Diego School of Law. 2021 Platinum sponsor, Postlethwaite & Netterville, presents this on-demand webinar: Diversity in MDL Leadership Appointments.

Panelists:

• Brooke Hodge, Postlethwaite & Netterville 
• Amy Keller, DeCillo Levitt
• Erin Copeland, Fibich Leebron Copeland & Briggs
• Danielle Mason, Milberg Coleman Bryson Phillips Grossman
• Sarah London, Lieff Cabraser Heimann & Bernstein

During this webinar panel participants discuss the leadership positions in which they’re currently serving in major multidistrict litigations (MDLs) across the country. In these cases, the judges have sought out diverse candidates for the plaintiffs’ steering committees. Some of the leadership teams on these cases have been lauded by the media as some of the most diverse leadership teams in MDL history. 

When it comes to building committees, the participants agree that leaders should consider the makeup of the class and whether any class members have experienced disparate impacts, particularly class members of color. The steering committee members (and judges) want the class to trust that they are being represented fairly; otherwise, it can lead to a breakdown of trust.

But diversity goes beyond the MDL – the plaintiffs’ bar, and greater legal industry, must do more to increase the number of diverse attorneys in law firms from which to draw candidates for leadership positions. An important aspect of increasing the ranks of diverse attorneys is ensuring they have the support of more experienced partners who can ensure they get opportunities to learn and gain experience in order to be qualified for higher-level roles.