Seramount/Working Mother revealed its 14th “Best Law Firms for Women” list, recognizing firms that utilize best practices in recruiting, retaining, promoting and developing women lawyers. WilmerHale was among the 50 firms that earned spots on this year’s list, and is one of only two firms to appear on the list each year since its inception. This year, Seramount also featured an interview with Partner Felicia Ellsworth on how the firm helps women succeed.

“We know that women have left the workplace in droves since the onset of COVID-19,” said Subha V. Barry, CEO of Seramount. “But the fact that representation of women equity partners, and women lawyers overall, has increased during this turbulent time just shows how supportive our Best Law Firms for Women are to parents and caregivers. They stepped up and offered increased flexibility and new benefit programs to help this critical talent pool balance both work and homelife.”

Seramount’s 2021 Best Law Firms for Women application included more than 300 questions about lawyer demographics at different levels, schedule flexibility, paid time off and parental leaves, and development and retention of women. This year, in light of COVID-19, several questions were added about the success of working from home for lawyers.

The full list highlights law firms that averaged 25 percent women among equity partners, compared with 23 percent last year, and women represented 40 percent of all lawyers overall (up from 39 percent in 2020). Of all female equity partners, 16 percent were multicultural, and multicultural women represented 27 percent of overall women lawyers (up from 26 percent).

WilmerHale’s leaders, including Co-Managing Partner Susan Murley, have created a culture where women lawyers at all stages of their careers can succeed. The firm continues to be intentional about developing an inclusive culture and narrowing gender and diversity gaps.

WilmerHale was also recently recognized:

• Among the “Top Firms for Working Mothers & Family Planning” by Yale Law Women, an organization which seeks to advance the status of women and traditionally underrepresented gender identities at Yale Law School and in the legal profession at large;
• For the eighth consecutive year as one of the “Top Women-Led Businesses in Massachusetts,” ranking among the top 10 of Massachusetts businesses and appearing as the only law firm on the list; and
• With Mansfield 3.0 Certification Plus status for 2020 for a sustained commitment to diversity and inclusion, earning “plus” status for having at least 30 percent of key firm leadership and committee positions held by lawyers who are women, people of color or LGBTQ+.