Working Mother revealed its 12th “Best Law Firms for Women” list, recognizing firms that utilize best practices in recruiting, retaining, promoting and developing women lawyers. WilmerHale was among the 60 firms that earned spots on this year’s list and is one of only three firms recognized for being on the list since its inception.

“It’s heartening to see the progress women lawyers are making at firms committed to fully utilizing these attorneys’ abilities,” said Meredith Bodgas, editor-in-chief of Working Mother. “The war for talent is increasing incentives for law firms to invest in retaining women lawyers, which is why we’re seeing more women’s initiatives and parental-support groups. By highlighting what our top firms are doing, we hope others in the legal community will follow.”

The full list, available here, highlights law firms that are above average in total women lawyers, equity partners and offer exceptional benefits. To be considered for the list, law firm completed the 2019 Working Mother Best Law Firms for Women application, administered by the Working Mother Research Institute, including more than 300 questions about attorney demographics at different levels, schedule flexibility, paid time off and parental leaves, and development and retention of women.

WilmerHale has long been dedicated to recruiting top women attorneys and helping them advance in their careers. The firm's guiding principles include a commitment to diversity and inclusion. Women, along with attorneys of color and other diverse attorneys hold leadership positions throughout the firm.

Since 2012, Susan Murley has led the firm as co-managing partner. Under her leadership, as well as that of fellow Co-Managing Partner Robert Novick, the firm has repeatedly ranked as one of the top law firms for women attorneys.

Working Mother’s recognition of the firm is just one of several WilmerHale has received recently for its demonstrated commitment to diversity and inclusion. Others include:

• Placed eight among the largest firms on Law360’s Best Firms for Female Attorneys list, with women representing 44.1 percent of its nearly 900 attorneys, 50.1 percent of its non-partners and 25.2 percent of partners. (WilmerHale has only equity partners.)
• Ranked eight among the largest firms on Law360’s Best Law Firms for Female Partners list, placing the firm among its “ceiling smasher(s)” based on the percentage of women equity partners.
• Is one of only 26 law firms nationwide to receive Mansfield Certification Plus status after successfully completing a one-year pilot program in which participating firms agreed to have their diversity efforts measured against ambitious targets for the percentages of women and attorneys of color in leadership and other important roles.
• Earned a 100 percent rating in the 2019 Corporate Equality Index (CEI), an annual survey administered by the Human Rights Campaign Foundation (HRC). This survey evaluates the treatment of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ) employees in the workplace. The firm has received a perfect score every year since 2009. This year, 571 businesses earned CEI’s top score of 100, and WilmerHale was one of 114 law firms to receive a perfect score.