Reed Smith is the only law firm that has achieved WILEF’s Gold Standard Certification and met all objective criteria in the US every year since the awards were inaugurated in 2011, and has achieved Certification in the UK since the award’s inception there in 2019.

Three of seven members of the Senior Management Team, the firm’s governing body, are women. Ten of 24 members of the firm’s Executive Committee, including the lead member, are women. Nine women serve as chairs or vice-chairs of the firm’s practice or industry groups, and eight women are managing partners or co-managing partners among the firm’s 30 offices.

“Reed Smith continues to be an industry leader in creating a culture that prioritizes the development and advancement of our women attorneys. The WILEF recognition really shows how this has been a years-long focus and effort by the firm to create a more gender-balanced workplace,” said Cristina Shea, partner and global chair of WINRS, Reed Smith’s Women’s Initiative. “I have no doubt that we will continue to make this a priority and that Reed Smith will continue to lead in this important area.”

Gold Standard Certification is based on objective criteria representing the attainment of a firm’s female lawyers, including the number of female equity partners, number of women in firm leadership positions and number of women among a firm’s most highly compensated partners.

“Reed Smith is dedicated to the advancement of women lawyers in the firm and the profession,” said Casey Ryan, partner and Global Head of Legal Personnel at the firm. “We have maintained our leadership in the industry with a broad suite of programs and services designed to support women at all stages of their career, including promotion to the partnership. Our firm and clients benefit significantly from the achievements recognized by the 2020 WILEF award.”