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“Fried Frank is really at the top of its game in terms of training, mentoring programs, women’s and other affinity groups, social events and client
contact – all of which are key drivers of associate growth. As an associate, I appreciated that there was a huge support system in place.”
—JENNIFER L. RODBURG, PARTNER, BANKRUPTCY AND RESTRUCTURING
Advancing Women Fostering Individuality
Fried Frank is committed to fostering an environment that promotes equal opportunity for all women. Ours is a workplace in which difference and individuality are valued, fostering a culture of inclusiveness.
The women of Fried Frank exemplify this culture. Like Valerie Ford Jacob, Firm Chairwoman and head of our capital markets corporate practice, women lead practice areas and actively participate in Firm governance and management. Valerie insists she is no superwoman and credits her family and, particularly, her supportive coworkers, for helping to make it all work: “They are there when you need them most.” In addition to her leadership roles within the Firm, Valerie is consistently ranked and recognized among the world’s leading capital markets lawyers. In February 2012, she was named “Finance Lawyer of the Year” at Chambers USA’s prestigious Women in Law Awards ceremony.
Valerie is not the only Fried Frank woman partner to achieve groundbreaking success in a traditionally male-dominated area. Washington, DC partner Dixie Johnson and New York partner Carmen Lawrence co-head our White Collar Criminal Defense and Securities Enforcement practice. Dixie Johnson joined the Firm in 1986, became a partner in 1993, and currently serves as an officer of the ABA’s Section of Business Law. Speaking on the changing legal landscape for women in the legal community and the importance of Firm culture in leveling the playing field, Dixie says:
“Firms should focus on the basics of providing leadership opportunities, modeling and teaching excellent legal skills, encouraging creativity and respect, and filling the workplace with laughter and support.”
Fried Frank was the first-choice firm for Carmen Lawrence following her exceptional tenure at the US Securities and Exchange Commission, where she served as the Regional Director for the SEC’s largest office (the Northeast, covering 14 states and the District of Columbia) and oversaw all regional enforcement and regulatory operations. Some of the SEC’s most significant cases were pursued under Carmen’s leadership. Carmen continues
to participate in Firm governance and is an active member of the Firm’s Attorney of Color Affinity Group.
Aviva Diamant is a senior partner in Fried Frank’s premier corporate department. Aviva joined the Firm in 1972 and became a partner in 1979. Drawing on the expertise honed over her distinguished career, she leads some of the most complex, cutting-edge mergers and acquisitions being executed in the broader business market.
Real estate partner Melanie Meyers was named a “Woman of Influence” by both Real Estate New York and Real Estate Forum in 2008 and 2010. Honorees of the Real Estate Forum’s “Women of Influence” list, comprising 51 women leaders in commercial real estate, were selected based on their positions and track records, contributions to their fields and professions, and civic achievements. Melanie was chosen, among other reasons, for her work on Manhattan’s West Side Yards, Brooklyn’s Atlantic Yards, Chelsea Market and the New York Yankees Stadium. She was also featured in NYinc’s “Profiles in Innovation:15 People You Should Know” in real estate.
Associates are trained and mentored by women attorneys at the Firm who serve in key leadership roles and are respected and supported by their male partner colleagues, all integral aspects of the Firm’s cultural framework.
Fried Frank has been recognized for two consecutive years (2011-2012) with a Gold Standard Certification from the Women in Law Empowerment Forum (WILEF) based on the career success of its women partners.
Fried Frank is proud to note the 50% promotion rate of women in the 2011 partnership class.
DIVERSITY COMMITTEEThe Firm’s Diversity Committee provides a forum for identifying, discussing and prioritizing diversity issues and for developing related initiatives. The Professional Development and Mentoring Subcommittee regularly examines pertinent studies regarding the retention of women lawyers and barriers to their professional advancement, and analyzes our assigning, evaluation and mentoring systems, seeking to eliminate any such obstacles that uniquely impact women lawyers. We are particularly proud of the accomplishments of our WorkLife Balance Subcommittee, which has had a tremendous impact on helping all lawyers at the Firm manage their work and personal responsibilities. The subcommittee’s numerous efforts have included expanding the availability of cost-effective in-home child and elder care services, the establishment of nursing mothers’ rooms in our Washington, DC and New York offices, and execution of quarterly WorkLife Balance Forums on topics including defining and achieving work/life balance, tips for handling caregiving challenges, strategies for working parents and time management.
Working mothers find Fried Frank to be an especially supportive environment that allows them to successfully meet both their personal and professional aspirations, as reflected in the comments of New York corporate partner Jessica Forbes, who concentrates her practice on securities trading and credit regulation for hedge funds, private equity firms, family offices, broker-dealers, other professional traders and high net-worth individuals. She notes that:
“Fried Frank is an excellent place for women, which was a key factor in my selecting it. It is one of very few major law firms with a woman at the helm, but it’s more than that: it doesn’t merely treat women equally; it proactively addresses the issues unique to women in the workplace. I had two children before becoming partner. I was the first corporate associate to work part-time, and we mostly made up the rules as we went along because there were no policies in place then. This was uncharted territory among big law firms. I credit the Firm for its flexibility in allowing me to dramatically change my work schedule and shift my practice area in a way that helped me balance the demands of home and work. In the end I have a great family and a great career to show for it.”
Our comprehensive flex-time policy distinguishes the Firm as a leader among major firms in this benefit provision and formalizes our long history of providing flexible methods for all attorneys, including many without children or other family obligations, to meet their professional and personal goals. Notes real estate associate Risa Letowsky:
“I have always found the partners in my department to be very supportive of my flex-time schedule, and no one at the Firm, partner or associate, has ever made me feel that my flex-time arrangement was less important because I didn’t have a child at home.”
THE WOMEN’S FORUMThe primary mission of the Firm’s thriving women’s initiative, the Women’s Forum, is to foster and develop the talents and abilities of female attorneys across the Firm and ensure that those talents are best utilized to maintain Fried Frank’s excellence in service to our clients and our communities. The Forum is also committed to helping women attorneys at Fried Frank achieve their greatest potential with respect to their professional lives, while maintaining a balance with their personal lives and addressing the challenges they may encounter along the way.
The Women’s Forum promotes the professional goals of women attorneys and encourages Firmwide sensitivity to issues that uniquely impact women in the workplace. Through its Women’s Working Group, the Women’s Forum presents regular programming to the Firm and the broader community. Programs include quarterly women associate discussion groups facilitated by female and male partners and designed to foster open communication between women attorneys and Firm leadership; professional development training for women attorneys that includes seminars on presentation, networking and business development skills; a premier Women-to-Women Networking Event, welcoming hundreds of our women clients and their mentees for an evening of networking and to hear reflections from an inspirational woman in leadership; and community-building receptions where our women partners, counsel and senior associates share their personal and professional stories.
THE
GOLDSTANDARDBEST LAW FIRM FOR WOMENFried Frank recognized for four consecutive survey administrations (2008, 2011) as a Best Law Firm for Women by Flex-Time Lawyers, the National Association of Female Executives and Working Mother Magazine.
50% FIRM PARTNER PROMOTION RATE
SUPERIOR PERFORMANCEFried Frank earned Yale Law Women’s 2012 Recognition of Superior Performance in two categories, Gender Equity in Partner Promotions and Gender Equitable Use of Parental Leave Policies.
Learn more at friedfrank.com
Membership and participation in the Women’s Forum is open to all women lawyers at Fried Frank, from first-year associates to senior partners, and all other attorneys who support its mission.
For more information on Fried Frank’s Women’s Forum, please contact:
DANA LEE New York Office Leader [email protected] +1.212.859.8492
JANICE MAC AVOY New York Office Leader [email protected] +1.212.859.8182
ANUJA A. MAJMUDAR Washington, DC Office Leader [email protected] +1.202.639.7484
THAO TRAN New York Office Leader [email protected] +1.212.859.8787
VASILIKI B. TSAGANOS Corporate Partner (Washington, DC) [email protected] +1.202.639.7078
REBECCA NEUSCHATZ ZELENKA Washington, DC Office Leader [email protected] +1.202.639.7260
MAJA D. HAZELL Director of Diversity and Inclusion [email protected] +1.212.859.8345 (New York) +1.202.639.7161 (Washington, DC)
FOR MORE INFORMATION REGARDING OUR DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION PROGRAM, PLEASE CONTACT:
“As a Fried Frank attorney, I have worked on some of the largest and most complex transactions in my field. Because of the Firm’s support, I have been able to achieve professionally while also balancing the needs of my growing family. This has been a win-win for me personally and careerwise.”
—REBECCA ZELENKA, EIGHTH-YEAR ASSOCIATE, CORPORATE
“As far as big New York firms go, Fried Frank is as good as it gets. It maintains a down-to-earth quality that distinguishes it from other firms in this market. The Firm strikes a nice balance in that its lawyers, clients and matters are of the highest caliber, yet its culture is informal and friendly.”
—LISA H. BEBCHICK, PARTNER, LITIGATION
“When I was selecting a firm, it was important to me that I work for a firm that wished to invest in me. I have been pleasantly surprised to learn that beyond developing me in the law, Fried Frank is also interested in developing me as a whole professional person. Within the first six months of my employment, I have taken the lead on a pro bono case, taken a leadership role on a Firm committee and serve as an alumni liaison with my law school. This diverse experience has allowed me to explore many interests and has allowed me to engage with the Firm on many levels. I don’t feel as if I simply come to work to do a job; I feel that I am part of a community.”
—KEITA DE SOUZA, FIRST-YEAR ASSOCIATE, BANKRUPTCY
