February 10, 2021

Bloomin’ Brands Legal Team Boosts Diversity Through Mansfield Rule Program

Tampa, Fla. (Feb. 10, 2021) –  The Bloomin’ Brands, Inc. (BLMN) legal department is seeking the legal industry’s most rigorous diversity recognition - the Mansfield Rule certification. It is committed to increasing diversity by broadening the pool of women, LGBTQ+, lawyers with disabilities, and racial/ethnic minority lawyers who are considered for internal job openings and promotions, as well as outside counsel representation. To obtain the certification, the company committed to consider at least 50% historically underrepresented lawyers for 70% or more of leadership roles and outside counsel assignments.

“This program encourages us to measure, create accountability, and move beyond good intentions,” said Kelly Lefferts, Bloomin Brands Executive Vice President, Chief Legal Officer and Secretary. “Now that we are quantifying our commitment to diversity and inclusion, we’re seeing real change.”

The company’s legal department is seven months into an 18-month process for certification and has demonstrated positive shifts in diversity and inclusion efforts. Since beginning the project:

• 74% of outside counsel hires have been from historically underrepresented groups up from 34%.
• 33% of outside counsel hires have been people of color up from 5%.
• 56% of outside counsel hires have been women. Pre-program participation metrics were 27%.
• The company has hired three in-house attorneys, all of which are from historically underrepresented groups and one of whom was formerly Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer of an AmLaw 200 firm who piloted the Mansfield Rule and led it to Mansfield Certification Plus Status three times.

To learn more about the Mansfield Rule, visit this link.

About Bloomin’ Brands, Inc.