(23 June 2014) – Reed Smith LLP today announced it has earned 2014 Gold Standard Certification from the Women in Law Empowerment Forum (WILEF).
The award is now in its fourth year: Reed Smith is one of only two law firms in the nation to meet all six WILEF Gold Standard Certification criteria every year.
“Women play key roles throughout our platform, contributing significantly to the success and growth of our firm. We benefit enormously from our women leaders and are dedicated to sustaining our Gold Standard performance.” said Sandy Thomas, Reed Smith’s Global Managing Partner.
WILEF Certification is a reflection of the leadership roles achieved by equity women partners in American law firms, rather than simply the policies or practices of firms or their overall number or percentage of women partners.
In order to be certified, WILEF requires that firms with more than 200 practicing attorneys in the United States satisfy at least four criteria: 20 percent of equity partners, 10 percent of firm chairs and managing partners, 20 percent of the firm’s primary governance committee, 20 percent of the firm’s compensation committee, 25 percent of the firm’s practice leaders and/or department heads, and 10 percent of the top-half of the most highly compensated partners in each category in the firm must be women.
“The Reed Smith partnership takes a unique approach to gender balance by making the recruitment, retention and promotion of women a key business imperative” said Kit Chaskin, Global Director of the Women’s Initiative Network of Reed Smith (WINRS). “Its commitment to women’s professional development and leadership has created a culture where female leadership thrives. We are delighted that WILEF’s review of our accomplishments has culminated in a fourth consecutive Gold Standard Certification.”
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