Davis Polk & Wardwell was today named a "2008 Best Law Firm for Women" by Working Mother magazine and Flex-Time Lawyers LLC. The annual honor recognizes law firms whose policies take into account the issues that are most important to the retention and promotion of female lawyers.
Davis Polk was selected based on its initiatives in a number of areas, including family-friendly benefits, flexibility, leadership, compensation, and advancement and retention of women.
"Today nearly half of law school graduates are women. Law firms need to make a fundamental shift in their policies by instituting female- and family-friendly benefits as Davis Polk has done," said Carol Evans, CEO, Working Mother Media. "We hope that by recognizing Davis Polk, who has already moved the needle, a paradigm shift will follow."
"We hope other law firms will take notice of Davis Polk's commitment to change, and competition will drive more creative ways to enhance work/life balance and improve the status of women in the profession," said Deborah Epstein Henry, Founder and President, Flex-Time Lawyers LLC. Flex-Time Lawyers is a national consulting firm advising attorneys and legal employers on work/life balance.
Davis Polk is a long-time leader among major US firms in hiring and promoting women. In 1971, Davis Polk became one of the first Wall Street firms to elect a woman partner. Today, it is recognized as one of the most female-friendly firms in The Am Law 100, and its women lawyers lead numerous practice groups and committees throughout the firm.
