Gibbons Ranked One of the Country's Best Law Firms for Women for Third Year in a Row
August 11, 2009Working Mother magazine, the definitive publication for women balancing careers and families, and Flex-Time Lawyers LLC, a national consulting firm on best practices for work/life balance, have named Gibbons P.C. a 2009 “Best Law Firm for Women” for the third year in a row. Gibbons was one of only 50 firms across the country selected among an extremely competitive pool of applicants in this third year of the “Best Law Firms for Women” program and is one of only 14 firms to appear on the list all three years.
The Working Mother recognition is the latest in a series of noteworthy tributes Gibbons has earned for its groundbreaking Women’s Initiative. Earlier this year, Gibbons became only the third law firm to ever receive the prestigious Catalyst Award, the preeminent corporate honor for companies that demonstrate exceptional dedication to the retention and promotion of women. The Women’s Initiative is the firm’s longstanding, successful platform for Gibbons women attorneys at all levels to participate with each other, clients, firm management, and high-level women in business and academia in quality programs that improve knowledge; foster teamwork and support systems; provide vital networking and business development opportunities; and internally advise on family-friendly workplace policies.
“Through their hard work, the leaders of the Women’s Initiative remind us how strong the business case is for a workplace culture that values work/life balance, offers generous, family friendly benefits, and is broadly vested in women’s professional success,” says Patrick C. Dunican, Jr., Chairman and Managing Director of the firm. “Our Women’s Initiative is integral to the firm’s business development strategy and a critical component of the Gibbons brand, which is a big reason why Working Mother recognizes us as a ‘Best Law Firm for Women.’”
The employment benefits and practices highlighted by Working Mother are the result of the insight and leadership of the firm’s executive committee and senior-level administration working in conjunction with the Women’s Initiative. The “Best Law Firms for Women” evaluation process is extremely comprehensive, measuring firms on factors that include: workforce profile; family friendly benefits and policies; flexibility; leadership, compensation, and advancement of women; and development and retention of women. Gibbons emerged from this process as a leader among American law firms committed to women’s professional development and career advancement.
“We are proud of our 2009 Best Law Firms for Women because they understand that when the market improves, the war for talent will return and they will be better positioned to recruit and retain the best and brightest,” said Deborah Epstein Henry, Founder and President, Flex-Time Lawyers. “Big salaries and bonuses will no longer be the pivotal means for firms to draw the best talent, and culture and environment will become more important ways for firms to distinguish themselves.”
The August/September 2009 issue of Working Mother includes a special editorial section on the “Best Law Firms for Women,” which includes a profile of Gibbons that will also be permanently archived on the Working Mother magazine website at www.workingmother.com. The awards will be presented to the winning law firms at a gala luncheon and working roundtable on September 15, 2009 at the Pierre Hotel in New York City.
“The recession has created a shift in the legal industry and now is the time to push through mutually-beneficial, cost-effective reforms that directly benefit work-life balance and allow working moms to succeed both at home and in the court room,” said Carol Evans, President, Working Mother Media. “We salute the 2009 Best Law Firms for recognizing that making the legal profession work for women is good business for everyone.”
About Working Mother Media
Founded in 1979, Working Mother magazine reaches 2 million readers and is the only national magazine for career-committed mothers. Its 22-year signature initiative, Working Mother 100 Best Companies, is the most important benchmark for work/life practices in corporate America. Working Mother is published by Working Mother Media, which was founded in 2001 with a mission is to champion culture change. For more information, visit www.workingmother.com.
About Flex-Time Lawyers LLC
Flex-Time Lawyers LLC® is a national consulting firm advising lawyers, law firms, bar associations, law schools, and corporations on work/life balance, business development, women's initiatives, reentry of comeback professionals, and the retention and promotion of women. It hosts a membership organization with chapters in New York and Philadelphia, offering networking opportunities, support, career guidance, education, and information sharing to effect change. Flex-Time Lawyers LLC is a resource to the press and legal community at large on work/life balance and women's issues and also provides recruiting services. For more information, please visit www.flextimelawyers.com.
