Working Mother Names Ballard Spahr Among Best Firms for Women

Ballard Spahr has been named to Working Mother's Best Law Firms for Women list, which recognizes firms that utilize best practices in recruiting, retaining, promoting, and developing women lawyers.

The list was derived from the Working Mother Best Law Firms for Women survey, which included more than 300 questions about attorney demographics at different levels, schedule flexibility, paid time off and parental leaves, and the development and retention of women.

“We strive to create policies and practices that address the realities of our lawyers’ personal and professional lives, and to create a system that is flexible, efficient, and beneficial to the lawyers and the firm. It’s not only the right thing to do—it’s the best way to attract and retain top talent,” said Partner Denise L. Plunkett, who co-leads the firm’s Ballard Women business resource group. “We are proud to receive this award, which recognizes the efforts we have made and will continue to make in this important area.”

The full list from Working Mother includes just 60 law firms from across the country. Recognized firms also offer extended parental-leave benefits, encourage more lawyers to work remotely and use flexible hours, and increasingly offer reimbursements for fertility procedures.

Ballard Spahr has a longstanding commitment to advancing women in the workplace. With women comprising 28.29 percent of its equity partners, the firm is above the national average. Women, including women of color, make up 66 percent of the firm’s newly elected partners and 40 percent of the newly elected Board. In May, Law360 ranked Ballard Spahr as one of the top U.S. firms for women, placing it 11th among firms with more than 600 lawyers. It also is among an elite group of law firms that has received the Women in Law Empowerment Forum’s Gold Standard Certification every year since the program's inception in 2011.

Ballard Spahr supports its women lawyers through its Ballard Women business resource group, which is co-chaired by Salt Lake City Partner Melanie J. Vartabedian, New York City Partner Denise L. Plunkett, 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.