Ogletree Deakins Earns Gold Standard Certification From Women in Law Empowerment Forum

ATLANTA – August 4, 2015 – Ogletree, Deakins, Nash, Smoak & Stewart, P.C. (Ogletree Deakins), one of the largest labor and employment law firms representing management, is pleased to announce that the firm has earned a 2015 Gold Standard Certification from the Women in Law Empowerment Forum (WILEF). Law firms with 300 or more practicing lawyers in the United States are eligible for WILEF Gold Standard Certification if they successfully demonstrate that women represent a meaningful percentage of their equity partners, highest leadership positions, governance and compensation committees, and most highly compensated partners. For 2015 WILEF Certification, law firms had to satisfy four or more of the following criteria:

• Women account for at least 20 percent of equity partners or at least one-third of the attorneys becoming equity partners during the past 12 months.
• Women represent at least 10 percent of firm chairs and office managing partners.
• Women make up at least 20 percent of the firm’s primary governance committee.
• Women represent 20 percent or more of the firm’s compensation committee.
• Women make up at least 25 percent of practice group leaders or department heads.
• Women represent at least 10 percent of the top half of the most highly compensated partners.

“In recent years, our firm has been diligently striving to create rewarding developmental and leadership opportunities for our women lawyers,” said Kim Ebert, managing shareholder of Ogletree Deakins. “We are proud to earn a 2015 WILEF Gold Standard Certification, as the recognition is an acknowledgement of our efforts.”

About Ogletree Deakins

Ogletree Deakins is one of the largest labor and employment law firms representing management in all types of employment-related legal matters. The firm has more than 700 lawyers located in 47 offices across the United States, in Europe, and in Mexico. Ogletree Deakins has been named a Law Firm of the Year four consecutive years by U.S. News – Best Lawyers^® “Best Law Firms.” In 2015, the publication named Ogletree Deakins its “Law Firm of the Year” in the Labor Law – Management category. In addition to handling labor and employment law matters, the firm has thriving practices focused on business immigration, employee benefits, and workplace safety and health law. Ogletree Deakins represents a diverse range of clients, from small businesses to Fortune 50 companies.