The Women in Law Empowerment Forum has certified Baker Donelson as a Gold Standard Firm for the sixth consecutive year.
WILEF grants Gold Standard status to firms that meet objective criteria concerning the number of women among equity partners, in firm leadership positions and in the ranks of their most highly compensated partners. Baker Donelson was among 48 U.S. law firms to earn this certification.
Criteria that are considered for WILEF Gold Standard Certification include the number of women attorneys who are equity partners, who serve as heads of the firm, offices, practice groups or departments, who serve on the firm’s primary governance committee and who serve on the firm’s compensation committee.
To earn certification, firms must meet both a mandatory criterion regarding the percentage of women equity partners and at least three of five additional criteria related to women in various areas of leadership, compensation and minority and LGBT representation.
Through its Women’s Initiative, Baker Donelson has implemented numerous programs designed to create an environment in which female attorneys thrive, the firm says in a news release.
These include an “industry-leading” parental leave policy, a firmwide mentoring program for women, a program that awards business development grants to women attorneys and a training program designed to help women attorneys achieve equity shareholder status.
Source: Baker Donelson