Goodwin has been named to the Women in Law Empowerment Forum’s (WILEF) Gold Standard Certification list for 2020. This marks the fourth time the firm has been recognized on the list.
WILEF grants Gold Standard status to major law firms in the US and UK 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. For 2020 Gold Standard Certification, women must represent 20% of equity partners or, alternatively, 33% of the lawyers becoming equity partners during the past twelve months are women.
Additionally, Gold Standard firms have to meet at least three of the following five 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.
As the first AmLaw 100 law firm led by a woman, Goodwin has a long history of supporting and empowering women firmwide and across the legal profession. Through the work of Women@Goodwin and Mansfield Rule, Goodwin continues to reaffirm its commitment to ensuring fairness and equality for all. As a result of these efforts, the firm has been recognized as a Best Law Firm for Women by Working Mother and a Top 10 Family Friendly Law Firm by Yale Law Women.
Launched in 2007, WILEF was founded by Peggy Cohen and Betiayn Tursi to provide educational and networking opportunities to women in law firms and corporate legal departments. Now entering its fourteenth year, WILEF continues to be the premier organization exclusively dedicated to supporting women from the largest law firms and corporate law departments in the United States, London and Paris.
To see the full list of WILEF Gold Standard Certified firms, click here.