The firm was one of only seven that met all certification criteria this year
(June 8, 2017) – Littler, the world’s largest employment and labor law practice representing management, has been awarded the Gold Standard Certification from the Women in Law Empowerment Forum (WILEF). 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. Littler is among the 14 firms that have been awarded Gold Standard Certification every year since WILEF began the award in 2011. Additionally, the firm was one of only seven firms that met all seven certification criteria this year.
“We are honored to receive the WILEF certification for the seventh consecutive year,” said Tom Bender and Jeremy Roth, co-managing directors of Littler. “Our women attorneys contribute greatly to Littler and this recognition demonstrates our unwavering commitment to create opportunities for women to be empowered and succeed at every level of the firm.”
Littler has a number of programs and initiatives in place to support the advancement of women and diverse attorneys. Through its Women's Leadership Initiative (WLI), the firm focuses on developing and retaining women leaders. In addition, the firm’s award-winning Career Advocacy Program has been instrumental in advancing women in its ranks. CAP selects diverse associates (Protégés) and pairs them with some of the firm’s most influential leaders and rainmakers (Advocates) and with general counsel of major corporations (Champions). The program has grown from 22 Protégés to 47 (including 27 women), and there are currently 14 Advocates (including 7 women) and nearly a dozen active client Champions.
“WILEF honors law firms whose advancement of women stands out,” said Elizabeth “Betiayn” Tursi, WILEF’s Global Chair. “It demonstrates that women are an integral part of success in today’s challenging environment, which these firms recognize.”
At Littler, women attorneys hold various leadership positions within the firm. The firm’s board is comprised of 26 percent women, 23 percent of women serve as office managing shareholders and 25 percent serve as industry and practice group leaders. Additionally, Littler’s female attorneys participate in legal, business and civic communities, championing causes important to the firm including women’s advancement, diversity and inclusion, and innovation in the delivery of legal services. As a result, Littler continues to be recognized by organizations such as Vault, which has ranked Littler a top firm for Diversity for Women and by Working Mother magazine, which has consistently named the firm among its 50 Best Law Firms for Women.
About the Women in Law Empowerment Forum
Founded by its Global Chair, Elizabeth Anne “Betiayn” Tursi, with the support of successful senior corporate executives and women attorneys, and subsequently law firm and corporate sponsors, WILEF is dedicated to assisting women in law to assume leadership roles within the National Law Journal 350 law firms, in Fortune 1000 legal departments and in their respective communities. WILEF presents cutting edge programming that provides an educational and networking forum for women in law and women law school students.
About Littler
Littler is the largest global employment and labor law practice, with more than 1,300 attorneys in over 75 offices worldwide. Littler represents management in all aspects of employment and labor law and serves as a single-source solution provider to the global employer community. Consistently recognized in the industry as a leading and innovative law practice, Littler has been litigating, mediating and negotiating some of the most influential employment law cases and labor contracts on record for 75 years. Littler Global is the collective trade name for an international legal practice, the practicing member entities of which are separate and distinct professional firms.
