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ATLANTA – July 27, 2016 – Ogletree, Deakins, Nash, Smoak & Stewart, P.C. (Ogletree Deakins), one of the largest labor and employment law firms representing management, has been named among the 2016 Working Mother and Flex-Time Lawyers Best Law Firms for Women. This prestigious recognition acknowledges firms that lead the industry in creating and using best practices in retaining and promoting women lawyers. Ogletree Deakins is one of 50 firms on the 2016 list.
Working Mother and Flex-Time Lawyers co-founded the Best Law Firms for Women initiative in 2007 to recognize firms that lead the industry in initiatives for women’s business development and career advancement, plus offer flexible work arrangements and generous paid parental leave, among other important benefits. According to their 2016 report, women represent 30 percent of nonequity lawyers and 20 percent of equity partners. This is the highest percentage of women lawyers in the past nine years. In addition, the number of Best Law Firms reporting three or more women among the top ten rainmakers increased from 16 percent to 22 percent over the last year.
“I am proud to be associated with a firm who continues to make strides in the advancement and promotion of its women lawyers while developing concrete initiatives to support them in their day to day work,” said Michelle Wimes, Ogletree Deakins’ director of professional development and inclusion. “Although this is our first time receiving this recognition, it will not be the last.”
The Ogletree Deakins Women’s Initiative (ODWIN) was established to support the firm’s women attorneys in four key areas: talent development; alumnae relations; flexibility/awareness; and business development/client relations. ODWIN offers programing and initiatives to aid the development and advancement of Ogletree Deakins’ women attorneys in leadership opportunities, mentorships, business development strategies, and identifying educational resources.
About Flex-Time Lawyers
Flex-Time Lawyers LLC is an international consulting firm founded by Deborah Epstein Henry in the late 1990s, providing advisory, training and speaking services to employers and professionals on work life balance, retaining and promoting women and the future of the legal profession. It provides consulting and speaking services to law firms, corporations, professional service firms, non-profits, bar associations, and law schools, and at conferences, and retreats. Flex-Time Lawyers hosts a membership organization, offering quarterly in-person and webcast events on timely issues with prominent speakers. Membership also provides resources, networking opportunities and education about legal industry norms. For more information, please visit http://www.flextimelawyers.com.
About Working Mother Media
Working Mother Media (WMM), a division of Bonnier Corporation (bonnier.com), publishes Working Mother magazine and its companion website, workingmother.com. The Working Mother Research Institute (workingmother.com/wmri), the National Association for Female Executives (nafe.com) and Diversity Best Practices (diversitybestpractices.com) are also units within WMM. WMM’s mission is to serve as a champion of culture change. Working Mother magazine reaches more than 2 million readers and is the only national magazine for career-committed mothers. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and Pinterest.
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. Premier client service, as outlined in the firm’s Client Pledge, is one of the firm’s top priorities and a cornerstone of its core values. U.S. News – Best Lawyers® “Best Law Firms” has named Ogletree Deakins a “Law Firm of the Year” for five consecutive years. In 2016, the publication named Ogletree Deakins its “Law Firm of the Year” in the Employment Law – Management category. Ogletree Deakins has more than 750 attorneys located in 49 offices across the United States and in Europe, Canada, and Mexico. The firm represents a diverse range of clients, from small businesses to Fortune 50 companies.