The Minority Corporate Counsel Association (MCCA) honored Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP with its prestigious Thomas L. Sager Award for the Southwest Region on February 15, 2012. The presentation took place at the Houston Museum of Natural Science and was attended by 140 people. Accepting the award on behalf of Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP was Sylvia Mayer, a partner from the Houston office.

The Thomas L. Sager Award is given to law firms that demonstrate sustained commitment to improving the hiring, retention and promotion of minority attorneys. It is named for MCCA board member and DuPont Company Senior Vice President and General Counsel Thomas L. Sager. It is presented to outstanding law firms at four Regional Networking Forums during the year.

Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP received the award for

• the Weil 1L Diversity Fellowship, Weil’s new diversity initiative for first-year law students;
• establishment of professional development affinity groups to advance, retain, develop and attract a diverse group of lawyers, as well as develop stronger bonds with their clients; and 
• a program announced in 2011 for LGBT employees that made Weil one of only a handful of employers offering a tax “gross-up” payment for employees whose same-sex spouse or domestic partner is enrolled in the firm’s health benefits program.

“MCCA is pleased to acknowledge Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP with the Thomas L. Sager Award,” said Joseph K. West, MCCA president and CEO. “They have gone beyond ‘having a diversity program’ by working to make inclusion part of their daily culture. Everyone is encouraged and enabled to work up to their full potential. This is an example the entire legal industry would do well to follow.”