Working Mother and Flex-Time Lawyers Name Quarles & Brady One of the Best Law Firms for Women
MILWAUKEE, Wis. — The national law firm of Quarles & Brady LLP today announced that the firm has made the 2016 Working Mother and Flex-Time Lawyers Best Law Firms for Women. Working Mother and Flex-Time Lawyers recognizes firms for leading the industry in creating and using best practices in retaining and promoting women lawyers.
The full list of the 2016 Working Mother and Flex-Time Lawyers Best Law Firms for Women is posted here with highlights on representation of women and women of color in key leadership roles, and usage and promotion rates for reduced-hour lawyers, among other key points. Working Mother and Flex-Time Lawyers co-founded the Best Law Firms for Women initiative in 2007 to recognize firms that lead the industry in initiatives for women’s business development and career advancement, plus offer flexible work arrangements and generous paid parental leave, among other important benefits.
This year, women represent 30% of nonequity lawyers, the highest percentage in the past nine years while 20% of equity partners were women compared with a national average of 18%. The number of Best Law Firms reporting three or more women among the top ten rainmakers increased from 16% to 22% over the last year (at the 46 winning firms that responded).
For the first time this year, the proportion of female equity partner promotions is the same for firms with one-tiered tracks and two-tiered tracks. At single-tier firms, female equity partner promotions increased one percentage point, year over year, to 34%. At two-tiered firms, the promotion rate increased to 34% from 30% in 2015. The number of nonequity partner promotions going to women (36%) increased one percentage point, year over year.
Jennifer Owens, editorial director of Working Mother Media, says, “Working Mother and Flex-Time Lawyers’ Best Law Firms show how to make it work. Despite intense pressures, the success of the firms in creating workable solutions for working families shows their commitment and ingenuity to create a progressive future for their firms.”
Subha Barry, VP & General Manager, Working Mother Media, says, “As we celebrate the Best Law Firms for Women, there is still much work to be done, with only 18% of equity partners being female nationwide, reported by the National Association of Women Lawyers. With grit and client centeredness, women lawyers can continue to find growing success as rainmakers and a pathway to leadership positions.”
Deborah Epstein Henry, president of Flex-Time Lawyers LLC, adds, “In reflecting on the decade since we began the Best Law Firms for Women initiative, we are pleased to see firms competing to make their environments more hospitable for women to both work and thrive. The greater level of awareness and commitment to make change is what will enable women to propel to the next level.”
About Flex-Time Lawyers
Flex-Time Lawyers LLC is an international consulting firm founded by Deborah Epstein Henry in the late 1990s, providing advisory, training and speaking services to employers and professionals on work life balance, retaining and promoting women and the future of the legal profession. It provides consulting and speaking services to law firms, corporations, professional service firms, non-profits, bar associations, and law schools, and at conferences, and retreats. Flex-Time Lawyers hosts a membership organization, offering quarterly in-person and webcast events on timely issues with prominent speakers. Membership also provides resources, networking opportunities and education about legal industry norms. For more information, please visit http://www.flextimelawyers.com.
About Working Mother Media
Working Mother Media (WMM), a division of Bonnier Corporation (bonnier.com), publishes Working Mother magazine and its companion website, workingmother.com. The Working Mother Research Institute (workingmother.com/wmri), the National Association for Female Executives (nafe.com) and Diversity Best Practices (diversitybestpractices.com) are also units within WMM. WMM’s mission is to serve as a champion of culture change. Working Mother magazine reaches more than 2 million readers and is the only national magazine for career-committed mothers. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and Pinterest.