Faegre Baker Daniels Honored by Greater Des Moines Partnership for Support of Young Professionals
On Nov. 13, Faegre Baker Daniels LLP received the Best Workplace for Young Professionals award from the Greater Des Moines Partnership as part of the organization's Celebrate Business and Economic Impact Awards.
The Best Workplace for Young Professionals distinction recognizes a company that fosters an atmosphere where young professionals, ages 18-40, can work and grow through community involvement, educational opportunities, leadership cultivation and work/life balance.
"Faegre Baker Daniels values the skills and perspectives young professionals contribute to our firm and our clients," said Mike Giudicessi, leader of FaegreBD's Des Moines office. "We are proud of our entire team, those newer lawyers and those experienced professionals who help them cultivate their practices and skills."
FaegreBD was recognized for its formalized mentorship and professional development program, and a flexible associate career model that allows new lawyers to advance and develop at individual paces. Flexible scheduling options, competitive parental leave and adoption reimbursement policies, and on-site fitness facilities enable professionals to balance work and family commitments.
Emerging professionals at FaegreBD are encouraged to become leaders in both the firm and the community. As a result, young lawyers in Des Moines serve on local nonprofit boards, lead client relationships, serve on firmwide committees or as practice area co-leaders, and have been afforded challenging professional opportunities such as arguing before the Iowa Supreme Court and organizing the firm's Iowa M&A Conference. FaegreBD encourages all lawyers to participate in pro bono work by allowing them to apply up to 100 hours of pro bono work each year to their annual billable hour requirement.
A profile of Celebrate Business Award recipients in the Des Moines Business Record highlighted that 76 percent of lawyers working in FaegreBD's Des Moines office are in the 18-40 age range. Recruiting bright new law graduates and emerging lawyers is a priority at FaegreBD.
FaegreBD partner Karin Johnson accepted the award on behalf of the firm at a luncheon on Nov. 13 at the Des Moines Marriott.
The Greater Des Moines Partnership is the economic and community development organization serving Greater Des Moines, Iowa. The organization focuses on the economic and community development of the eight-county Greater Des Moines area and works to recruit and assist new and expanding businesses and develop a talented and educated workforce.