June 27, 2023
Willkie has been awarded 2023 Gold Standard Certification from the Women in Law Empowerment Forum (WILEF) for advancing gender diversity and promoting a high percentage of women to the leadership ranks.
WILEF recognized Willkie with Gold Standard status for having a high level of women, including women of color, in equity partnership and leadership positions at the firm. Willkie is among a select group of 28 major U.S. law firms that satisfied WILEF’s criteria for certification.
To be WILEF Gold Standard certified, law firms must meet the following benchmarks:
- 25% of equity partners or, alternatively, 40% of the attorneys becoming equity partners during the past 12 months are women
- 10% of women equity partners are women of color, or 4% of women equity partners are LGBTQ
In addition, firms must satisfy at least two of the following four criteria:
- 20% of firm and U.S. branch office heads are women
- 25% of the firm’s primary governance committee are women
- 25% of the firm’s compensation committee or its equivalent are women
- 20% of the top half of the firm’s equity partners in terms of compensation are women
The Gold Standard certification further establishes Willkie as a diversity leader and highlights the firm’s ongoing commitment to the recruitment, retention and advancement of women and diverse attorneys.
Willkie was recently ranked 9th in the 2023 Diversity Scorecard by The American Lawyer, recognizing the racial and ethnic diversity of its lawyers at every level and the firm’s commitment to the success of its diverse talent. The firm was similarly recognized by the National Law Journal in the 2023 NLJ Women’s and LGBTQ+ Scorecards, ranking among the top law firms for female lawyers and attorneys who identify as LGBTQ+.
WILEF is a leading organization dedicated to the advancement of women in the law. Read about the WILEF 2023 Gold Standard Certification here.