Ballard Spahr Recognized as Top U.S. Firm for Women by Law360

Law360 has ranked Ballard Spahr one of the top U.S. firms for women, placing it 11th among firms with more than 600 lawyers.

Law360's Glass Ceiling Report ranks the top firms for women lawyers based on a survey of more than 300 U.S. firms. To determine the ranking, the publication first grouped firms according to their size, then excluded any firm that had below-average female representation at any level of the firm. Finally, it ranked the remaining firms based on their percentage of women attorneys, both for partners and non-partners.

Ballard Spahr has a longstanding commitment to advancing women in the workplace. For the past eight years, the firm has earned the Gold Standard Certification from the Women in Law Empowerment Forum. The Gold Standard Certification is based on objective criteria for female participation in firm and practice management and governance, as well as the promotion and compensation of women attorneys. The firm is among an elite group of law firms that has received this recognition since the program's inception in 2011.

With women comprising 26.5 percent of its equity partners, Ballard Spahr is above the national average. The firm supports its female lawyers through its Ballard Women affinity group, which is co-chaired by New York Partner Denise L. Plunkett, Salt Lake City Partner Melanie J. Vartabedian, Phoenix Associate Lea A. Phillips, and Philadelphia Associate Jane Rose Siegfried. The group hosts events for women clients and prospective clients, supports a mentoring program for younger women lawyers, and sponsors professional development programming. It is committed to improving the professional experience of women lawyers and bolstering their trajectory into key participation and leadership roles, both inside and outside the firm.

"Our commitment to advancing women in the legal industry is a core part of Ballard's culture," said Ms. Vartabedian. "It truly is a commitment that starts at the top and can be felt at all levels of the firm."