(May 3, 2012, New York) – Reed Smith LLP, a leading global law firm, has been named a 2012 “Top Ten Family Friendly Firm” by Yale Law Women (YLW).

The firm was selected for the honor in recognition of its “leadership in developing and implementing family-friendly policies and practices.”

“We are very pleased to be recognized by Yale Law Women for our family-friendly employment policies,” said Gregory B. Jordan, Reed Smith’s Global Managing Partner. “Our firm is proud not only of the many family-affirming policies we have in place, but also of the results these policies achieve by creating a firmwide environment where ‘work-life balance’ and 'equity' are more than just catch phrases.”

YLW separately cited Reed Smith for its outstanding performance in the gender equitable use of parental leave policies. Just seven firms – only three of which were also among the overall top 10 family-friendly firms – earned this additional recognition.

“It is a well-deserved honor for Reed Smith to be singled out as one of just seven firms where mothers and fathers make equal use of parental leave,” said Kit Chaskin, Director of Reed Smith’s firmwide Women’s Initiative Network (WINRS). “The user-friendliness of our parental leave policies underscores our commitment to gender equity for women and men. It is simply part of our culture and our effort to make Reed Smith a great place to work.”

YLW surveyed law firms in the 2012 Vault Law 100 in terms of their part-time and flex-time options and use of each option by female and male employees; policies and results for billable hours; policies and results for partner promotions and participation in leadership committees; leave policies and alternative career programs, including childcare and leave, sick days and vacation days, and extended leave opportunities; and other benefits and innovative practices.

According to the YLW, gender equity in leadership was both a proxy and a mechanism for family-friendliness in 2012. In all law firms surveyed, women comprise 17 percent of equity partners; 12 percent executive management committee members; 43 percent of associates; and 30 percent of newly promoted partners. In Reed Smith's U.S. offices, women comprise 20 percent of equity partners; 30 percent of the executive management committee’s membership; 51 percent of the associate pool; and 33 percent of newly promoted partners.

All firms surveyed offer part-time and flex-time work scheduling options, but only 20 percent of the attorneys at the firms surveyed who use these options are men. At Reed Smith, 26.9 percent of the attorneys who work part-time or use its flex-time options are men.

Seventy percent of surveyed firms, including Reed Smith, offer on-site or backup childcare resources to their employees.

Reed Smith’s recognition by Yale Law Women as a “2012 Top Ten Family Friendly Firm” comes on the heels of its 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 nearly 1,700 lawyers in 23 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, Los Angeles, Washington, San Francisco, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Princeton, Northern Virginia, Wilmington, Silicon Valley, Century City, Richmond

Europe: London, Paris, Munich, Greece

Middle East: Abu Dhabi, Dubai

Asia: Hong Kong, Beijing, Shanghai