Haynes and Boone, LLP has been recognized as a Best Law Firm for Women this year by Working Mother magazine for its efforts to advance women lawyers.
The 2019 honorees will be recognized during a Gala Awards Luncheon & Career Accelerator Summit on Sept. 19 in Chicago.
Firms were selected based on data regarding female representation in key roles, women’s initiatives, workplace culture, networking, flexibility, mentoring, compensation, partnership and advancement.
“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.”
To read more about the honorees, click here.
Haynes and Boone has a number of efforts underway that drive minority and female hiring and retention. This includes the Women’s Initiative Committee, which provides support for women lawyers through mentorship, professional development programming, and networking opportunities.
“The Women’s Initiative Committee is a tremendous asset to our women attorneys, helping us in formal and informal ways to advance our careers and attain professional fulfillment,” said Partner Erin England, who serves as co-chair of the committee with Partner Tamara Devitt.
Devitt added: “The committee works in concert with Haynes and Boone to promote a fair and inclusive environment where all lawyers, including women, are recognized as vital to the firm’s success and to obtaining the best results for our clients.”
The firm sponsors events such as the Women Partners’ Summit, quarterly women partner meetings, a Women’s Leadership Academy, which is geared towards fourth through sixth-year women associates, and the Accelerate program, which is geared toward first-year women associates. The firm also is actively involved with the University of Texas Center for Women in Law (CWIL) through its financial and volunteer support of the center and its pipeline initiatives. The CWIL is the only center of its kind in the U.S. and supports female lawyers throughout their careers. Partner Nina Cortell is one of the founders of the CWIL.
“Excellence in diversity and inclusion is a Haynes and Boone core value,” Director of Diversity and Inclusion Jennifer Reddien said. “We recruit the best and the brightest and seek to attract, retain, and promote individuals who reflect the global marketplace, our clients, and the communities we serve.”