News Release
McGlinchey’s Ferachi and Plunkett Selected for Law360 Editorial Boards
Read Time: 3 minsMcGlinchey Stafford is proud to announce that Managing Member Michael D. Ferachi (Baton Rouge) was selected for the 2024 Legal Industry Editorial Board and Chief Diversity Officer and Director of Human Resources Eliska Plunkett (New Orleans) was selected for the 2024 Diversity & Inclusion Editorial Board by Law360.
“I am honored to be included in this group of legal industry leaders,” Michael said. “I look forward to our discussions as we combine our shared knowledge of issues impacting this ever-evolving field in service of supporting Law360’s upcoming industry coverage.”
Members of the Editorial Boards were selected from numerous applicants in each subject area. The Boards’ purposes are to give “expert insight on how best to shape future coverage” and to provide reporters with a pool of potential sources. The Legal Industry Editorial group will convene in July and the Diversity & Inclusion Editorial group will convene in October for annual editorial planning discussions.
“I look forward to working with my fellow Diversity and Inclusion Editorial Board members to discuss the landscape of efforts towards inclusion and equity in our field,” Eliska said. “At McGlinchey, we work hard to foster an inclusive culture where every employee feels welcomed, supported, and valued. I always enjoy hearing from peers about their experiences in this area.”
Under Michael and Eliska’s leadership, the firm recently achieved the Midsize Mansfield Certification. Following a rigorous 18-month process led by Diversity Lab from September 2021 to March 2023, this distinction certifies that McGlinchey aims to track, measure, and achieve diversity in law firm leadership. As participants in the second certification cohort, McGlinchey was among the first 100 firms to achieve this recognition in the U.S. and Canada. (The firm is currently participating in its second midsize Mansfield cohort to maintain certification.) In the past four years, the firm has also established the Ministry of Fun and Wellness Works programs and been recognized among many AmLaw 100 and 200 firms in three categories on Vault’s 2024 Best Law Firms for Diversity rankings.
In his second term as McGlinchey’s Managing Member, Michael divides his time between client service and providing strategic direction for the growth and management of the firm. He conceived and launched the #McGlincheyForward initiative, focused on change, culture, empowerment, growth, and gratitude, when he assumed the role in January, 2021.
Michael is also a member of McGlinchey’s Financial Services Litigation group. He is an experienced trial attorney who advises clients on consumer finance litigation, class actions, business disputes, and insurance defense matters. Michael’s work includes litigating disputes involving consumer finance institutions of all sizes as well as airlines, outdoor advertising, commercial finance entities, construction companies, and other entities. Michael has also represented clients in numerous class actions nationwide.
He received the Louisiana State Bar Association’s Pro Bono Publico award in 2014. Michael is recognized by Martindale-Hubbell, Louisiana Super Lawyers, and Best Lawyers in America, including being named Best Lawyers’ Lawyer of the Year for Baton Rouge banking and finance litigation in 2023. Active in numerous legal, industry, and community organizations, Michael served as President of the Baton Rouge Bar Association in 2004 and previously led the executive boards of St. James Episcopal Day School and Episcopal High School in Baton Rouge. Licensed to practice in Louisiana, he holds a B.S. and J.D. from Louisiana State University/ the Paul M. Hebert Law Center.
Eliska is the firm’s first Chief Diversity Officer as well as a seasoned human resources professional and employment attorney. As Director of Human Resources, Eliska manages and oversees the administration of HR policies, programs, and practices within the firm, including recruitment and retention, orientation, salary and performance, employee relations, onboarding, and communications. As Chief Diversity Officer, Eliska is charged with the development and implementation of the firm’s diversity initiatives and creating and sustaining an inclusive work environment where everyone is comfortable bringing their authentic selves to work.
Prior to serving as the Director of Human Resources, Eliska was a practicing attorney who served as a Member (Partner) in McGlinchey’s Labor and Employment practice group for more than a decade. In 2021, Eliska partnered with four other female law firm leaders to co-found the New Orleans Legal Diversity Collaborative (NOLDC), an initiative to drive change in the local legal diversity landscape by improving recruitment, retention, inclusion, equity, and minority advancement. The NOLDC encourages law firms to collaborate, pool resources, form a fellowship, share best practices to improve diversity, equity, and inclusion, and get initiatives pushed across the finish line.