News Release

McGlinchey Launches Uplift, A Women’s Initiative to Move the Firm Forward

July 8, 2021

McGlinchey Stafford is pleased to announce the launch of Uplift, the firm’s newly reimagined women’s initiative. Uplift’s mission is to be a home for McGlinchey’s women attorneys to convene, engage, empower, and advocate for each other in their work, in leadership, in their communities, across the legal profession, and in industries the firm serves.

“As women practicing law, we have unique considerations and experiences, both professionally and personally,” said Kristi Richard (Baton Rouge) Member and Uplift co-chair. “Uplift will be a place where we can get to know and learn from each other in order to effect change for the good of our careers, our industry, and our communities across the firm’s national footprint.”

“Given the firm’s new leadership and our #McGlincheyForward initiative, the timing was perfect for us to expand and build on our women’s programming,” said Kim Israel (Jacksonville), Member and co-chair of Uplift. “We’re excited to engage with women in every office to elevate, empower, and support each other to further our personal development, strengthen our client relationships, and ensure we are the best advocates we can be.”

Internally, Uplift is invested in creating a community where women lawyers across offices and practices share opportunities, experiences, and advice, continually fostering open and substantive communication and advocating for women in positions of leadership in client service and across the firm’s organizational structure. Uplift will coordinate internally with McGlinchey’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion committee and other affinity groups, as well as the Recruitment, Human Resources, Business Development, and other departments for the benefit of the firm at large, such as supporting the firm’s efforts at becoming Mansfield Certified in 2023.

In the legal and business community, Uplift will empower McGlinchey’s women attorneys in pursuing business relationships, elevating their visibility in given industries and practice areas, and empowering the next generation of women lawyers. In McGlinchey’s local communities, Uplift will identify opportunities for the firm’s women attorneys to support women and girls in gaining access to opportunities and building the best possible future.

“Culture and empowerment are two of the primary tenets of our #McGlincheyForward initiative,” said Michael Ferachi, managing member of the firm. “I know the firm’s women attorneys, through Uplift, will be instrumental in helping us live those values, which will not only benefit the future of our firm, but our client service and the practice of law as well.”

Uplift comprises McGlinchey’s more than 40 women attorneys across its 15 offices. The program builds on the strong foundation of McGlinchey’s Women’s Initiative Network (WIN), dating back to 2006. Women attorneys serve in senior leadership roles across the firm, and as of 2021, 40% of our office managing members are women.