Ogletree Deakins Named One of the 2024 “Best Law Firms for Women and Diversity” by Seramount

ATLANTA – May 30, 2024 – Ogletree Deakins, one of the largest labor and employment law firms representing management, is pleased to announce that the firm earned a spot on Seramount’s Best Law Firms for Women & Diversity 2024 list. This is Ogletree Deakins’ eighth appearance on this list.

Seramount’s “Best Law Firms for Women & Diversity” list recognizes law firms that utilize best practices in recruiting, retaining, promoting, and developing women lawyers and lawyers from underrepresented groups, including people of color. To be considered, applicants complete 648 questions about attorney demographics at different levels, flexibility, paid time off, parental leaves, and development and retention of women, people of color, and those from other underrepresented groups.

This year’s list shows growth in the representation of women and diverse lawyers, with 42 percent of lawyers being women and 24 percent being people of color. Seramount’s data also reveals positive change in the advancement of women and diverse lawyers, as well as firm benefits and inclusive practices.

Ogletree Deakins’ support for women and other diverse attorneys is reflected in the firm’s eight affinity groups, which serve as vehicles to recruit, develop, retain, and advance members through mentorship, professional and business development opportunities, networking, and community service. The firm’s affinity groups foster an environment of inclusion and belonging and enable members to celebrate culture and community. Members are given opportunities to attend conferences and programs to support their development through partnerships the firm has with local and national bar associations and other legal associations with the identified goal of advancing diversity in the legal profession. Ogletree Deakins also has established affinity group mentoring programs to further support and engage members.

Ogletree Deakins’ ODWIN Sponsorship Program provides tools and opportunities for non-equity shareholders who are members of ODWIN, the firm’s women’s initiative, to help them advance to equity shareholder status. Paired with equity shareholders, the participants gain support, exposure, and career guidance. The ODWIN mentoring circles bring together members of varying experience levels and practice areas in small groups to discuss professional development, work-life balance, business development opportunities, and career goals. These mentoring circles provide a unique opportunity for members to connect, support, and learn from their peers.

The firm regularly reviews policies to ensure they are inclusive and accessible to everyone at the firm. Examples include, offering paid parental/caregiver leave, establishing reduced hours shareholder tracks, and considering a diverse slate for leadership roles and other meaningful advancement opportunities within the firm.

Ogletree Deakins’ statistics bolster the firm’s mission to provide an equitable and inclusive workplace. In 2023, more than a third of the firm’s leadership ranks were women and nearly two thirds of the firm’s attorneys were diverse.

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. Best Law Firms^® has named Ogletree Deakins a “Law Firm of the Year” for 13 consecutive years. In the 2024 edition, the publication named Ogletree Deakins its “Law Firm of the Year” in the Employment Law – Management category. Ogletree Deakins has more than 975 attorneys located in 54 offices across the United States and in Europe, Canada, and Mexico. The firm represents a diverse range of clients, including many of the Fortune 50 companies in the U.S. www.ogletree.com

About Seramount
Seramount is a strategic professional services and research firm dedicated to supporting high-performing, inclusive workplaces. Over four decades, we’ve established a strong, data-driven understanding of the employee experience, which lays the groundwork for everything we do. Seramount partners with over 450 of the world’s most influential companies, large and small, to offer pragmatic solutions including best practice DEI research, workplace assessment, employee learning and development, and talent sourcing. These offerings empower companies to navigate a dynamic corporate environment and to cultivate a resilient, connected workforce that achieves extraordinary outcomes.