DEI Newsletter - Summer 2024

We are committed to achieving a workplace that is reflective of
the clients we serve and the communities in which we live and work.

We invite you to learn about our ongoing efforts to promote understanding, advancement and empowerment and to increase diversity, equity and inclusion within the firm, the legal profession and our community.

Achievements and Recognition

Shipman & Goodwin (Shipman) achieved Mansfield Certification Plus for a fourth consecutive year. Mansfield Certification, awarded by Diversity Lab, measures the structural changes and steps we have taken over the past year to ensure our paths to leadership are open and transparent to all qualified lawyers. The “Plus” designation indicates that we’ve not only taken steps to increase inclusivity in leadership, but we’ve also made measured progress in doing so. Mansfield’s processes seek to ensure equal opportunity and access to leadership roles. The firm is currently participating in the July 2023 to July 2024 Mansfield Certification process.

Rauchell Beckford-Anderson

Rauchell Beckford-Anderson was elected to the Board of Directors of the Aurora Women and Girls Foundation, a non-profit based in West Hartford. Rauchell was intrigued with the organization’s work, specifically, its focus on creating positive change in the lives of women and girls in Greater Hartford.

Sarah Dlugoszewski

Sarah Dlugoszewski was awarded the Graduates of the Last Decade "GOLD" Impact Award by the UCONN School of Law Alumni Association. This award is presented to those who have a positive impact within the legal community and their personal community.

Leander Dolphin

Leander Dolphin, Managing Partner at Shipman, was presented with the Impact Award at the 2023 Women Rising Annual Gala and Awards Celebration hosted by the Women’s Business Development Council (WBDC).  Leander was recognized for her commitment to cultivating equity as an attorney, and in the community at large.

In her role as Judicial Selection Commission Chair, Leander joined other panelists in May to present the discussion “How To Become a Judge in State Court,” an event co-hosted by The Stamford Partnership and the Lieutenant Governor’s Office.

Leander was also a panelist for a conference hosted by the Attorney’s Liability Assurance Society (ALAS) in February on, “Creating Inclusive Law Firms in Modern Times.” Alongside other panelists, Leander shared her insights on fostering inclusivity in law firms and the legal profession.

Clockwise from left, Keegan, Lee, Laura, Julia and Tracy

Keegan Drenosky, Lee Anne Duval, Laura Schuyler, Julia Wilde and Tracy Ellis Williams were promoted to Partner at the firm. This is the second consecutive year that all the attorneys promoted to partner are women.

Steven Lapp

Steven Lapp was appointed to serve as Vice President of Membership for the Connecticut Asian Pacific American Bar Association (CAPABA). CAPABA’s mission is to support Asian Pacific American attorneys and communities and those interested in Asian Pacific American legal issues throughout the state of Connecticut.

Ian Leon

Ian Leon was elected to the Connecticut Hispanic Bar Association’s (CHBA) Board of Directors. Ian’s involvement with CHBA dates to when he began law school, and the CHBA has a played a significant role in his professional development ever since. Ian is looking forward to contributing to CHBA’s mission, improving communication and resource sharing among members, and supporting students through mentorship.

Anne Littlefield

Anne Littlefield was named as one of Hartford Business Journal’s (HBJ) Top 25 Women in Business for 2024. HBJ’s annual list recognizes women who lead organizations in the greater Hartford region, highlighting the range of industries they represent, the obstacles they overcome and the milestones they achieve. Anne was recognized for her work representing schools in labor relations, employment, and education law, including collective bargaining, personnel policies, and special education.

Cultivating Diversity

Hispanic Heritage Month - October

Shipman’s DEI Committee hosted an informative discussion surrounding the use of the term “Latinx”. Representative Geraldo Reyes, Jr. shared what inspired him to advocate for and support recent legislation discouraging the use of “Latinx” in state documents. The panel also included Connecticut’s four Latino Superintendents: Dr. Alexandra Estrella, Dr. Madeline Negrón, Dr. Leslie Torres-Rodriguez, and Dr. Alberto Vazquez Matos, who shared their perspectives on Latino terminology and identity, and discussed the significance of inclusive language and cultural awareness in education.

National Veterans and Military Families Month - November

In honor of Veterans Day, the firm hosted a virtual discussion with Bart Gullong, who together with his business partner revolutionized medical first aid and introduced the blood clotting product QuikClot to the military.  Their story is portrayed in the book “In The Blood: How Two Outsiders Solved a Centuries-Old Medical Mystery and Took on the US Army.”

Shipman Women's Alliance

Shipman Women’s Alliance (“SWA”) strives to provide a platform for our women attorneys and clients to share their insights, ideas, experiences, and inspirations. SWA holds numerous events and meetings throughout the year to promote their advancement and give them the opportunity to enhance their network.

Last October, SWA held a panel discussion called #sorrynotsorry that discussed whether women tend to over-apologize, the impact that apologizing can have on communication, and how to avoid overusing the phrase “sorry.” The panel, moderated by Maggie Garden, included Dr. Bridget Heston Carnemolla, Superintendent of Avon Public Schools, Shipman’s Managing Partner Leander A. Dolphin and Partner Rebecca Santiago.

In May, SWA hosted its Annual Golf Outing at Tumble Brook Country Club in Bloomfield, providing an opportunity for our women lawyers and guests at all levels of ability and interest to take from lessons from LPGA instructors and to spend time together.

Godfrey Simmons

Black History Month - February

In celebration of Black History Month, we welcomed Godfrey Simmons, Artistic Director of Hartbeat Ensemble, Hartford’s Public Theatre, for an engaging discussion which focused on his personal and professional journey through the lens of deeply civically engaged artistic experiences.

Lillian Malley

Women's History Month - March

In honor of Women’s History Month, we highlighted the remarkable achievements of our first woman lawyer and partner, Lillian L. Malley. In tribute to the profound influence she wielded in shaping the very fabric of our firm, we held a special ceremony dedicating and renaming one of our Hartford conference rooms in her honor. We were privileged to have her nephew, Jim Malley, join us and share many touching stories about his late Aunt.

Shipman Partners With GLAD To Host A Series of  Transgender ID Clinics

Shipman has partnered with the CT Transgender ID Project to offer a series of free name/gender ID legal clinics open to all members of the transgender community in Connecticut. Connecticut’s Transgender ID Project is a joint project of GLBTQ Legal Advocates & Defenders (GLAD) and Shipman & Goodwin. Shipman lawyers volunteer their time and expertise in partnership with the Metropolitan Community Church of Hartford (where clinics are usually hosted) and GLAD, providing free legal advice for individuals looking to change their name and/or gender marker on state and federal identity documents. The next clinic will be offered on June 29 from 12PM – 4PM, at Metropolitan Community Church of Hartford. 

 Mentoring and Pipeline Initiatives

Law Day 2024

Law Day is an annual event designed to give students from diverse backgrounds an inside view of life at a law firm. In 2024, students from Newington High School, Hall High School and Conard High took part in a panel discussion about career options in the law and related fields with attorneys and staff from the firm and enjoyed a round of Legal Jeopardy. They also visited the Connecticut Supreme Court to meet the justices and the Connecticut Secretary of State.

Vidhisha Thakkar

LCD Summer Internship

2024 marks Shipman’s 6th year participating in the Lawyers Collaborative for Diversity Summer College Internship Pipeline Program.  This program provides college students with paid summer work experience, weekly seminars, and local visits to a courthouse, law schools, and other locations. In addition to exposing students to the daily responsibilities of working in a legal office, the program includes a summer-long mock trial program which culminates in a mock courtroom experience hosted by Shipman. This year, we are proud to welcome Vidhisha Thakkar, a junior at the University of Connecticut, to the firm for nine weeks. 

Contact Us:

To learn more about our commitment to diversity and our diversity initiatives, please contact our Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Committee Chair, Alfredo G. Fernández at (860) 251-5353 or afernandez@goodwin.com.