We remember and celebrate one of our founders, Marty Africa.
Before joining Bob Major’s young legal search firm in 1984, Marty served as director of placement at UC Berkeley Law School. While at Berkeley, Marty quickly became one of the legal profession’s most passionate advocates for diversity in its ranks. She labored ceaselessly to ensure that women and people of color had access to opportunities and success that would otherwise have escaped them.
During her 30-year career in legal search at Major, Lindsey & Africa, Marty shared that same energy and commitment with both her candidates and clients in major educational institutions, not-for-profit organizations, corporate law departments and law firms. She saw our work as making a difference in the lives of organizations and people and in the practice of law. Along the way, she founded the ABA Women Rainmakers and was honored by that group and the Law Practice Division Diversity & Inclusion Committee with the naming of the Martha Fay Africa Golden Hammer Award. She served on numerous ABA committees relating to the advancement of women and helped launch an influential policy on diversity with the San Francisco Bar.
Just as much as she influenced her many clients, candidates and legal practice, Marty was and remains a touchstone and inspiration within MLA. The Marty Fay Africa Leadership Award is given annually to the person within MLA who consistently exhibits high performance and has had a significant positive impact on others. The MFA Leadership Award winner is selected by management and given to the person who best embodies the core values of the firm: Integrity, Quality, Respect, Diversity and Teamwork. Marty brought those values to life each day of her career.
Marty remained active in the business she loved until she passed away in early 2015 after a long illness. We were lucky to have her as one of our founders and as our colleague and friend. Although we miss her, she will always be an important part of MLA.
