SAN FRANCISCO (July 5, 2011) – Littler Mendelson, P.C. (Littler), the nation’s largest employment and labor law firm representing management, is proud to announce that it has been recognized as a “Gold Standard Firm” by the Women in Law Empowerment Forum (WILEF). The Gold Standard designation is reserved for firms that have supported women in top leadership positions and compensated them well.
To receive this certification, firms must demonstrate that women make up a significant percentage of their equity partners, top positions of leadership, governance and compensation committees, and most highly-paid partners. In addition, firms must have 100 or more practicing attorneys in the U.S.
WILEF invited over 300 eligible law firms to apply for the designation; of the firms that applied, only 32 met the criteria.
“We are extremely proud to receive this recognition from WILEF,” said Marko Mrkonich, president and managing director of Littler. “The firm has always been deeply committed to the retention and advancement of women, and being designated as a Gold Standard Firm is a testament to our efforts.”
Littler has developed a number of initiatives geared towards the firm’s female attorneys, including its Women’s Leadership Initiative, which supports and educates women on ways to enhance and increase leadership opportunities while creating a balance between work and personal life. The firm also offers remote working opportunities and flex-time options. As a result of these and other female-friendly programs, the firm has built a practice in which women currently account for 47 percent of its lawyers.
Dionysia Johnson-Massie, co-chair of Littler’s Women’s Leadership Initiative, said that the firm will continue to support and implement new female- and family-friendly policies that will encourage the professional advancement of women. “I have first-hand knowledge of the tremendous benefit that these policies and programs provide in helping our attorneys, particularly women, achieve success in their careers,” she said, “and that is why I am especially proud that Littler has been certified as a Gold Standard Firm.”
WILEF will be holding a luncheon in September of 2011 to honor each of the Gold Standard Firms. The certified firms will be also be issued a special seal to indicate that they have met WILEF’s Gold Standard criteria.
About WILEF
Founded by its National Chair, Betiayn Tursi, with the support of R.R. Donnelley and several successful senior women attorneys, and subsequently, of law firm and corporate sponsors, WILEF is dedicated to assisting women in law to assume leadership roles within the AmLaw 100, Second Hundred and Fortune 1,000 legal departments and within their respective communities. WILEF presents cutting-edge programming that provides an educational and networking forum for women in law.
About Littler Mendelson
With over 800 attorneys and 51 offices, Littler Mendelson is the largest U.S.-based law firm exclusively devoted to representing management in employment and labor law matters. As the only U.S. member of the Ius Laboris global alliance, Littler has extensive resources to address the needs of multi-national clients, from navigating international employment laws and labor relations issues to applying corporate policies worldwide. Established in 1942, the firm has litigated, mediated and negotiated some of the most influential employment law cases and labor contracts on record.