Quarles & Brady Obtains WILEF 2020 Gold Standard for 10th Year in a Row

MILWAUKEE, WI — The national law firm of Quarles & Brady LLP is pleased to announce that it has received a Gold Standard Certification by the Women in Law Empowerment Forum (WILEF) for the 10th straight year. 47 firms are included on this year’s list.

“We are proud to receive the WILEF Gold Standard Certification for the tenth year in a row” says Darlene Austin, director of diversity, employee relations and corporate social responsibility for Quarles & Brady. “Earning the ten year milestone demonstrates our commitment to promoting gender diversity and provide our female attorneys with tools to take on leadership roles and grow their careers."

"As one of the first women to chair a firm of our size and scope, I know firsthand how committed Quarles & Brady is to diversity and inclusion," said Kimberly Leach Johnson, Firm Chair. "Our investment goes beyond recognition and awards to focus on a core principle: every person counts, every day."

WILEF grants Gold Standard status to major firms that meet objective criteria concerning the number of women among equity partners, in firm leadership positions, and in the ranks of their most highly compensated partners. To meet the requirements for the 2020 US Gold Standard Certification, firms need to ensure 20% of equity partners are women or 33% of the attorneys becoming equity partners during the past twelve months are women. Additionally, firms had to meet at least three of the following five criteria:

• 15% of firm and U.S. branch office heads are women
• 20% of the firm’s primary governance committee are women
• 20% of the firm’s compensation committee or its equivalent are women
• 15% of the top half of the firm’s equity partners in terms of compensation are women
• 10% of women equity partners are women of color or 4% of women equity partners are LGBT