Overview
NEW YORK (April 19, 2016) — McDermott Will & Emery has been ranked number five on Law360’s list of the 300 “Best BigLaw Firms for Female Attorneys.” This key ranking, known as the Glass Ceiling report, places McDermott in the top 2 percent of the nation’s law firms surveyed by Law360, as measured by demonstrated progress in the area of gender diversity.
Law360 surveyed over 300 U.S. firms, or vereins with a U.S. component, about their overall and female headcount numbers as of December 31, 2015. Only U.S.-based attorneys were included in the survey. Law360 lauded the top ten firms on their list, saying “they are taking active efforts to address what seems to be a norm of female underrepresentation.” The publication looked at what these firms are doing to support, promote and retain their female talent and identified four key behaviors:
- “They Take Feedback to Heart,” using current and former attorney input to steer policy and promote gender equality;
- “They Give Equal Work and Credit,” giving women the opportunity to perform the same work as men as well as the recognition for that work;
- “They Have an Open Path to Partnership and Leadership”; and
- “They Ensure Men Have a Stake,” affirming that male attorneys recognize the benefits of working on a diverse team.
McDermott was cited for the success of its Gender Diversity Committee and designing programming around the results of a Firmwide survey. This program was implemented through McDermott University to ensure that every lawyer at every level was getting the same internal assignments. Additionally, McDermott has launched a Women’s Business Development Coaching Program aimed at giving female lawyers the tools they need to build their practices and thrive in today’s legal marketplace.
“We are humbled and honored to be included on this exclusive list of law firms driving change in the area of gender equality,” said McDermott co-chair Jeffrey E. Stone. “At McDermott, diversity is not just a goal we aspire to – it’s something our Firm and our lawyers work toward every day. We want to thank those who lead our gender diversity programs, particularly Lydia Kelley, Andie Kramer and Jennifer Mikulina. Together they are making a real difference.”
“We are committed to giving women the opportunity to perform the same work as men and we target all of our lawyers with our diversity initiatives,” added McDermott co-chair Peter J. Sacripanti. “This is both the right thing to do and the right approach to our business. Our diverse, inclusive culture enhances our ability to attract and retain extraordinary people who can bring the best, broadest and most innovative ideas and perspectives to bear on the complex challenges facing our clients.”
McDermott’s Firm-wide Diversity & Inclusion Committee works to steer the Firm along the path to an ever more inclusive work environment while ensuring that all of lawyers understand the value of a diverse workplace. The Committee is also focused on maintaining an atmosphere in which all of our people have an equal opportunity to succeed. McDermott works continuously at the highest levels of Firm management to ensure equal access to all client development activities, challenging work assignments and viable advancement options for all lawyers. More about McDermott’s Diversity and Inclusion initiatives can be found here.
About McDermott Will & Emery
McDermott Will & Emery is a premier international law firm with a diversified business practice. Numbering more than 1,000 lawyers, we have offices in Boston, Brussels, Chicago, Dallas, Düsseldorf, Frankfurt, Houston, London, Los Angeles, Miami, Milan, Munich, New York, Orange County, Paris, Rome, Seoul, Silicon Valley and Washington, D.C. Further extending our reach into Asia, we have a strategic alliance with MWE China Law Offices in Shanghai.
