The recipient of the 2024 Southeastern Legal Awards Diversity Initiative winner at a ceremony honoring award recipients on June 20. Firms of all sizes embracing diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives. were eligible to apply. This year, a Georgia-based firm previously known as Bullock Ward Mason won the race, with finalists including McGuireWoods, Moore & Van Allen, Smith Anderson and Swift Currie McGhee & Hiers.

A headshot of Danielle Ward Mason. Danielle Ward Mason of Singleton Schreiber. (Courtesy photo)

“The inspiration behind implementing a successful diversity initiative came from seeing few other firms doing it,” the winning firm wrote in its application. “Managing Partner Danielle Ward Mason was the first Black woman to be named partner at two major national law firms. That lack of representation for women of color in firm leadership inspired her and her co-founder, Tina Bullock. Without having many female and minority leaders to look up to when we were young lawyers, we decided to create our own space for that leadership to exist and thrive.”