“It is an honor for the firm to be recognized for our ongoing commitment to maintaining a firmwide culture that supports women and gender equity through innovative programming and flexibility,” said Cristina Shea, global chair of the firm’s Women’s Initiative Network (WINRS). “We continue to see increases in our gender parity and other key DE&I metrics year over year, despite challenges facing our global workforce.”
Reed Smith is honored to hold a place in Seramount’s Best Law Firms for Women Hall of Fame for firms included in their list 10 years or more. Seramount’s survey assesses firms in three key categories: representation, flexibility, and support for women’s advancement.
“We are committed to continuing our investment in our women’s initiative as well as mentoring, recruiting and retaining top women lawyers, finding opportunities and ways to expand programming and policies, and implementing groundbreaking initiatives to help set our benchmarks,” said Reed Smith Global Managing Partner Sandy Thomas. “It’s affirming to receive recognition from Seramount, and we look forward to continued outstanding performance in this key area of our business.”
WINRS is a global platform focused on providing business development support, training, mentoring, networking, recruiting, and retention resources for the firm’s women lawyers, including targeted, customized programming and support for women throughout the arc of their careers.
In 2021, Reed Smith expanded its existing Ramp Up and Ramp Down policies providing lawyers with a reduced hours requirement at full pay to ease transitions to and from a leave and announced its participation in Diversity Lab’s OnRamp 200 Fellowship. This year, Reed Smith also launched a new expansive Family Support Initiative to further support caregivers. These gender-neutral supports and inclusive family-forming benefits are a part of Reed Smith’s commitment to a flexible and equitable culture, and the policies are ensuring that caregivers face no undue obstacles to their advancement. Beyond the pandemic, Reed Smith will remain committed to providing all of its attorneys with substantial flexibility in their work structure, ensuring genuine support and respect from their partners and colleagues, and providing access to innovative programs to sustain their advancement.
Seramount has ranked the top law firms each year since 2007, has conducted an in-depth survey designed to showcase law firms’ efforts and successes in recruiting, retaining, promoting and developing women lawyers. The firms earning recognition are selected based on extensive demographic data reflecting women in leadership, inclusivity, flexibility, family-friendly benefits, and information on their hiring, retention and advancement practices.
About the Methodology
Seramount’s 2022 Best Law Firms for Women application includes more than 300 questions about attorney demographics at different levels, flexibility, paid time off and parental leaves, and development and retention of women. Other questions cover ability to work from home some of the time, family-friendly benefits, and mentoring and sponsorship participation.
About Reed Smith
Reed Smith is a dynamic international law firm dedicated to helping clients move their businesses forward. With an inclusive culture and innovative mindset, we deliver smarter, more creative legal services that drive better outcomes for our clients. Our deep industry knowledge, long-standing relationships and collaborative structure make us the go-to partner for complex disputes, transactions, and regulatory matters.
For more information, please visit www.reedsmith.com.
