(May 16, Washington, D.C.) – Reed Smith LLP has been named a 2013 “Top Ten Family Friendly Firm” by Yale Law Women (YLW) for the second year in a row.

“Reed Smith is pleased again to be recognized among the firms with outstanding family friendly policies and practices,” said Gregory B. Jordan, Reed Smith’s Global Managing Partner. “We are proud that our ongoing efforts have resulted in offices worldwide where both women and men can succeed while raising a family.”

Yale Law Women also cited Reed Smith for its outstanding performance in achieving gender parity in partner promotions.

Fifty percent of the attorneys promoted to equity partner in 2012 were female. The firm has 700 female lawyers who account for some 22 percent of its partners, 42 percent of counsel, and 51 percent of associates. In addition, women account for 31 percent of Reed Smith’s leadership, including 40 percent of the Executive Committee and 40 percent of the Compensation and Promotion Committee.

All of the law firms selected were chosen from the list of firms in the 2012 Vault Law 100. YLW’s selections were based on an evaluation of firms’ relative success across broad categories related to developing and implementing family friendly practices and policies, such as scheduling and hours, career development, and leave policies. YLW conducted supplemental research as to firms’ implementation of family friendly policies – specifically whether attorneys of both genders utilized them, and how. Finally, YLW’s evaluation also included a survey of Yale Law School alumni who worked at the firms.

“We have worked hard to engage both men and women at Reed Smith in programs aimed at helping all parents to participate fully in career opportunities,” said Kit Chaskin, Director of Reed Smith’s firmwide Women’s Initiative Network (WINRS). “YLW’s award acknowledges that Reed Smith continues to be an innovator within the legal profession for this critical strategic area.”

Reed Smith’s 2013 “Top Ten Family Friendly Firm” award from YLW follows the firm’s 2011 and 2012 recognition as one of only three firms to qualify for all six requirements of the Women In Law Empowerment Forum’s (WILEF) Gold Standard Certification, which reflect a firm's percentage of women in partnership, leadership and top compensation ranks.

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