MBHB Furthers D&I Commitment with Updated Billable Hours Policy

MBHB Furthers D&I Commitment with Updated Billable Hours Policy

MBHB is proud to announce that it has updated its billable hours policy to promote time spent on diversity-related efforts, furthering the firm’s commitment to Diversity & Inclusion. As of August 2021, MBHB attorneys, patent agents and technical advisors participating in D&I-related programs and initiatives can receive full billable hours credit for time spent on these activities, up to approximately 100 hours per year for full-time practitioners.

Activities eligible for billable credit under the new policy include, but are not limited to:

• Leading or organizing diversity events or diversity network initiatives.
• Recruiting activities related to attracting underrepresented professionals to the firm.
• Mentoring or sponsoring underrepresented professionals beyond the firm’s existing mentoring program.
• Participating in allyship and action-oriented diversity programs that extend beyond education.
• Preparing for and participating in client-related diversity activity.

MBHB is one of five Chicago IP firms implementing this policy, as shared recently by the Intellectual Property Law Association of Chicago (IPLAC).

This updated policy is just one way MBHB is helping to drive D&I initiatives further and focusing attention on, and advancing, these issues within the broader IP community. For more information about the firm’s Diversity & Inclusion efforts, please see here.