Diversity, Equity & Inclusion

Berger Montague maintains a strong commitment to fostering diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) within the Firm, throughout the legal community, and in society more broadly. We actively work to increase diversity at all levels of our Firm and to ensure that professionals of all races, religions, national origins, gender identities, ethnicities, sexual orientations, and physical abilities feel supported and respected in the workplace. Recruiting, developing, and promoting diverse talent allows us to bring together a variety of perspectives and experiences to provide creative solutions for the challenges our clients face. It also makes us better attorneys, a stronger Firm, and fosters a positive work environment. The Firm’s full DEI Mission Statement is available here.

Our DEI Coordinator, Shareholder Camille Fundora Rodriguez, spearheads the Firm’s efforts, reports directly to the Firm Chairman, and leads the Firm’s DEI Task Force, which enacts a broad range of diversity efforts, including efforts to hire and retain attorneys and non-attorneys from diverse backgrounds and to foster an inclusive work environment, including through Firmwide trainings on implicit bias issues that may impact the workplace. Members of the DEI Task Force include attorneys from a variety of backgrounds and professional roles. Current DEI Task Force members include:

Camille Fundora Rodriguez (DEI Coordinator)
Candice J. Enders
Caitlin G. Coslett
Sophia Rios
Reginald L. Streater

Berger Montague’s commitment to DEI activities extends beyond our Firm. For example, DEI Task Force members are involved in numerous community and professional activities outside of the Firm. Representative activities include membership in and leadership positions with the Hispanic Bar Association, Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) of Philadelphia, Philadelphia Bar Association’s Business Law Section’s Antitrust Committee, Community Legal Services of Philadelphia, AccessMatters, After School Activities Partnerships, Leadership Council on Legal Diversity, and the Board of Education of Philadelphia.

Women Leaders

Women comprise over 30% of Berger Montague’s shareholders, well above the national average as reported by the National Association of Women Lawyers. The Firm provides professional development support to bolster our women attorneys’ trajectories into key participation and leadership roles, both within and outside the Firm, including mentoring, networking, and educational opportunities for women across all career levels. The Firm also provides four months of paid parental leave to primary caretakers (regardless of gender) and flexible work schedules once parental leave has expired, enabling parents to have long and productive careers while maintaining a balanced life.

As a result of these policies and initiatives, women attorneys at Berger Montague are generating new business, serving as first chair in trials, handling large matters, and holding leadership positions Firmwide.

**Sherrie R. Savett – Chair Emeritus & Managing Shareholder**

Ms. Savett, the Firm’s first Chairwoman, joined Berger Montague in 1975, five years after it was founded. She has served on Berger Montague’s Executive Committee for decades and has for many years Co-Chaired the Firm’s Securities Litigation and Qui Tam/False Claims Act departments. Learn more about Ms. Savett.

E. Michelle Drake – Managing Shareholder

Ms. Drake joined Berger Montague in 2016, opening the Firm’s Minneapolis office. She serves on the Firm’s Executive Committee. She founded and Chairs the Firm’s Credit Reporting and Background Checks department and serves as Co-Chair of its Consumer Protection department. In addition, Ms. Drake serves as Berger Montague’s IT Liaison, overseeing the Firm’s technology initiatives and practices. Learn more about Ms. Drake.