Cyrus Mehri

Board Member

Cyrus Mehri is a founding partner of Mehri & Skalet, PLLC, widely recognized for his landmark litigation on behalf of individuals and classes facing discrimination, civil rights violations, and corporate misconduct. Fast Company describes him as “a one-man army in the battle against business as usual,” and The New York Times notes that his work seeks “sweeping change, not the piecemeal kind.” He has led some of the largest race and gender discrimination cases in U.S. history—securing, for instance, record-breaking settlements of $176 million against Texaco and $192.5 million against Coca-Cola, coupled with comprehensive reforms to pay, promotions, and evaluations.
 Mr. Mehri also launched the “Women on Wall Street” project, achieving more than $114 million in settlements against major financial institutions and catalyzing systemic changes to boost opportunities for women. In the sports world, he co-authored the influential study with Johnnie L. Cochran Jr. that led to the NFL adopting the “Rooney Rule,” helping significantly increase diversity in NFL management.
 A graduate of Hartwick College and Cornell Law School, Mr. Mehri clerked for the Honorable John T. Nixon. He is also a founder of Working IDEAL, a consulting firm focused on diversity, equity, and inclusion. His work has earned honors such as the Cornell Law School Public Service Award, recognition from Hartwick College, and accolades from the Detroit City Council and the City of Miami.