Sarah Solum joined Freshfields in 2020 as Co-Founder and Managing Partner of the firm's Silicon Valley office, and was named US Managing Partner in 2021. With her appointment, Freshfields' US management team is 50 percent female and 40 percent racially/ethnically diverse. Sarah is a former member of the Global Advisory Board of the Women in Law Empowerment Forum (WILEF), and was also a member of HiPower, an executive leadership program for women. 

Freshfields runs leadership workshops on inclusion as well as their global reverse mentoring program, which pairs a more junior mentor with a more senior mentee to build relationships and networks with the firm's leadership. 

Freshfields achieved Mansfield Rule 4.0 Certification Plus status and WILEF Gold Standard Certification in the US. The firm also launched new five-year global commitments to DE&I and targets for diverse attorney representation and promotion.

Joined LCLD 2021

Highlights of LCLD Participation 

Fellows Program
Fellows Nominated:
2023: Vinita Kailasanath; 2022: Zheng Jonathan Zhou

Pathfinder Program
Pathfinders Selected: 
2023: Victor Ma, Maria Paz Lestido; 2022: Olivia Greene, Lucy Lei

1L LCLD Scholars Program
Scholars hosted: 
2022: Brianna Ward, Ahmed Ali, Julia Wang

Member: Sarah Solum

Diversity Professional: Kelly Fullwood

Communications: Elliott Frieder