(6 August 2014) – Reed Smith LLP today announced its selection as one of the nation’s “Best Law Firms For Women” by Working Mother and Flex-Time Lawyers. This is the fourth year the firm has risen to the top in this competitive ranking.
Reed Smith’s selection in 2014 was based on firm’s success in achievements by its female attorneys in the U.S. as of December 2013. These results included: 33% of all departments or practice groups were chaired, co-chaired or vice-chaired by women; 43% of the firm’s Executive Committee members were women; 27% of its Office Managing Partners were women; 38% of equity partner promotions in 2013 were earned by women; 50% of fixed share partner promotions were women; and, 67% of counsel promotions were women.
“Work-life balance remains a priority for Reed Smith, a priority that consistently translates into high levels of lawyer satisfaction and performance,” said Kit Chaskin, Global Director of the Women’s Initiative Network at Reed Smith (WINRS). “The firm’s commitment to gender equity and equal opportunity has not wavered, and the firm has created a culture and climate where parents thrive.”
Working Mother and Flex-Time Lawyers collaborate each year to identify and recognize the law firms across the nation creating significant change in the industry through their commitment to women’s persistence and advancement in the profession.
Today’s announcement from Working Mother and Flex-Time Lawyers comes on the heels of Reed Smith’s fourth consecutive award of Gold Standard Certification from the Women in Law Empowerment Forum (WILEF) in June. The firm is one of only two law firms in the U.S. to meet all six WILEF Gold Standard Certification criteria every year since the award was initiated in 2011.
WILEF certification is based on the number of leadership roles achieved by equity women partners in American law firms, rather than the policies or practices of firms or their overall number or percentage of women partners.
“Winning these two prestigious awards back to back again in 2014 is very gratifying,” said Chaskin. “Our programs supporting women firm wide are not designed to win awards, they are designed to make a real difference in our women’s careers and professional development. But we are always appreciative when our work and our results in this important area are recognized.”
About Reed Smith
Reed Smith is a global relationship law firm with more than 1,800 lawyers in 25 offices throughout the United States, Europe, Asia and the Middle East. Founded in 1877, the firm represents leading international businesses, from Fortune 100 corporations to mid-market and emerging enterprises. Its lawyers provide litigation and other dispute resolution services in multi-jurisdictional and other high-stakes matters; deliver regulatory counsel; and execute the full range of strategic domestic and cross-border transactions. Reed Smith is a preeminent advisor to industries including financial services, life sciences, health care, advertising, technology and media, shipping, energy and natural resources, real estate, manufacturing, and education. For more information, visit reedsmith.com.
U.S.: New York, Chicago, Washington, D.C., Los Angeles, San Francisco, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Houston, Princeton, Northern Virginia, Wilmington, Silicon Valley, Century City, Richmond
Europe: London, Paris, Munich, Greece
Middle East: Abu Dhabi, Dubai
Asia: Hong Kong, Beijing, Shanghai, Singapore, Kazakhstan