Faegre Baker Daniels Recognized as a Top Law Firm for Women

Faegre Baker Daniels LLP is among 50 U.S. law firms to receive Gold Standard Certification by the Women in Law Empowerment Forum (WILEF) in 2012. This designation recognizes firms that have women in top leadership roles that impact firm management and compensation decisions.

"The Gold Standard Certification is an important achievement for Faegre Baker Daniels," said Kathy Noecker, a partner and member of the firm's management board and executive committee. "We're proud to be a firm that empowers women to advance in compensation and leadership, and the numbers reflect our commitment to women's success."

WILEF invited more than 300 firms with 100 or more attorneys to apply for the certification. The designation is based solely on statistical data of women lawyers in leadership and highly compensated positions, and not on the firm's internal diversity policies.

To be certified, firms had to meet at least three of the following six criteria:

• Women account for at least 20 percent of equity partners.
• Women represent at least 10 percent of firm chairs and office managing partners.
• Women make up at least 20 percent of the firm's primary governance committee.
• Women comprise 20 percent or more of the firm's compensation committee.
• Women account for at least 25 percent of practice group leaders or department heads.
• Women comprise at least 10 percent of the top half of the most highly compensated partners.

"Faegre Baker Daniels is a stronger firm because of our incredibly talented women leaders," said Andrew Humphrey, managing partner of Faegre Baker Daniels. "We're pleased to receive this designation and to continue supporting the career advancement of our women lawyers and executives."

Faegre Baker Daniels actively supports the advancement of women in the legal industry through its internal Women's Forum for Achievement. This affinity group provides a platform for women to develop their careers, practices and networks, and ensures the firm is a place where women can achieve long-term success.

The Women in Law Empowerment Forum launched the Gold Standard Certification initiative as a change agent for women to rise within their law firms as business developers and leaders. The organization seeks to create a dialogue for the purpose of educating women in law firms on how to become leaders in the workplace and in the community by building, exercising and implementing a strong sense of empowerment.