Foley Awarded Gold Standard Certification by WILEF for Promoting Gender Diversity

The Women in Law Empowerment Forum (WILEF) has awarded Foley & Lardner its 2020 Gold Standard Certification for commitment to promoting gender diversity.  WILEF grants Gold Standard status to major law firms that meet objective criteria concerning the number of women among equity partners, in firm leadership positions, and in the ranks of their most highly compensated partners

To receive 2020 US Gold Standard Certification a firm must have women represent 20% of equity partners or, alternatively, 33% of the lawyers becoming equity partners during the past 12 months.  In addition, they must meet at least three of the five criteria listed below. Foley was one of a select group of law firms to meet all six of the WILEF criteria. 

• 15% of the firm and US branch office heads are women
• 20% of the firm’s primary governance committee are women
• 20% of the firm’s compensation committee or its equivalent are women
• 15% of the top half of the firm’s equity partners in terms of compensation are women
• 10% of women equity partners are women of color, or 4% of women equity partners are LGBT

Launched in New York in 2007, WILEF is the premier organization for women in law exclusively dedicated to educating and providing networking opportunities for women from the largest US law firms and corporate law departments.