NEW YORK, NY--(Marketwire - Aug 20, 2012) - Cooley LLP announced today that the Women in Law Empowerment Forum (WILEF) has recognized Cooley with its 2012 Gold Standard Certification. The WILEF Certification emphasizes the leadership roles achieved by equity women partners. WILEF's criteria for Gold Standard certification states that a firm must "demonstrate that women represent a meaningful percentage of their equity partners, of their highest leadership positions, of their governance and compensation committees, and of their most highly compensated partners."
"The 2012 Gold Standard Certification is an outward recognition of Cooley's core values and priorities, as well as the support, mentoring, and leadership available within the firm," said Shira Nadich Levin, partner-in-charge of Cooley's New York office and chair of the firm's Women's Initiative. "Cooley is dedicated to maintaining a truly diverse workplace that values and celebrates everyone's contribution."
The Cooley Women's Initiative
The Cooley Women's Initiative was created in 2011 as part of the firm's core diversity principles. Led by New York partner-in-charge Shira Nadich Levin, it was formed to attract, retain and mentor a strong network of women attorneys firm-wide. The Initiative provides the tools needed to achieve professional success and personal fulfillment, including personalized counseling, business development training and networking opportunities for women associates across the firm.
Recent activity and accolades by Cooley women attorneys include:
- Talent Advisory Board (TAB) Case Study
Cooley recently participated in two studies produced by the prestigious Talent Advisory Board (TAB) on work-life balance and diversity retention best practices. As a result, the Firm was selected and featured as a case study by TAB for its work-life arrangements as being "strategically integrated into a transparent culture."
- The Daily Journal: Top Women Lawyers List
IP litigation partner Heidi Keefe was named to the 2012 Top Women Lawyers list by The Daily Journal.
- NAWL Panel Address
IP partner DeAnna Allen spoke on a panel addressing the topic "My So Called Amazing Law Career" at the 2012 National Association of Women Lawyers Annual Meeting and Awards Luncheon in New York. Allen is a member of NAWL's executive board.
- NAWL Foundation Roundtable on Women's Initiatives
New York partner-in-charge and Chair of the Cooley Women's Initiative, Shira Nadich Levin, was invited to participate in an ongoing discussion conducted by a group of leaders of women's initiatives of large firms.
- Chambers USA "Women in Law Award"
M&A partner Jennifer Fonner DiNucci was honored in 2012 by Chambers USA with the "Women in Law" award in the category of Up & Coming Corporate/M&A Lawyer of the Year.
- San Diego Business Journal "Women Who Mean Business" Award
Associate Karen Deschaine was honored in 2011 by the San Diego Business Journal with the "Women Who Mean Business" award, recognized as a dynamic woman business leader and role model in the San Diego community.
- YWCA Silicon Valley: Annual Tribute to Women Awards
This annual award, honoring Silicon Valley's executive women, was awarded in 2011 to pro bono partner Maureen Alger.
About Cooley LLP
Cooley's attorneys have an entrepreneurial spirit, substantive experience and are committed to solving clients' most challenging legal matters. More than 300 of Cooley's 650 attorneys are litigators handling leading national cases, often at the intersection of law and innovation. From small companies with big ideas to international enterprises with diverse legal needs, Cooley has the breadth of legal resources to enable companies of all sizes to seize opportunities in today's global marketplace. The firm represents clients across a broad array of dynamic industry sectors, including technology, life sciences, venture capital, clean energy, real estate and retail.
The firm has full-service offices in eleven major business and technology centers: Boston, MA; Broomfield, CO; Los Angeles, CA; New York, NY; Palo Alto, CA; Reston, VA; San Diego, CA; San Francisco, CA; Seattle, WA; Washington, DC; and Shanghai, China.
Contact Information:
Thomas Freeman
212-479-6514
