Taft Stettinius & Hollister LLP ranked among the top 10 law firms in the “Inclusion Blueprint” survey, which assessed workplace policies to advance women into leadership positions. 

The survey was conducted by Diversity Lab, an incubator for diversity and inclusion in the law, and ChIPs, a nonprofit organization focused on advancing and connecting women in technology, law and policy.

The purpose of the survey was “to encourage and support inclusion efforts by honoring law firms that have fair and transparent advancement and compensation processes that contribute to a higher representation of women in leadership positions,” said Diversity Lab CEO Caren Ulrich Stacy. 

Instead of solely focusing on headcounts, the survey asked firms more in-depth and leading indicator questions, such as if a pay equity analysis had been conducted in the last five years and the steps taken to rectify any gaps.  The survey also had a strong focus on how work assignments are made and how origination credits are determined in intellectual property (IP) groups. 

“From moving to a one-class partner structure to providing emergency childcare as a paid benefit, Taft continues to break down barriers for women attorneys.  We have more women than ever in leadership positions thanks to a host of initiatives, such as bringing national experts to disrupt implicit biases and industry leaders who benchmark key metrics,” said Elizabeth Shuster, a Taft IP partner who led the submission for Taft.

Other recent advancements include increased representation of women attorneys on important firm-wide committees.  Taft’s compensation committee is comprised of 45% women partners and its executive committee is made up of 42% women partners.  

“At the end of the day, it’s really about top leadership making gender advancement a priority.  We have that at Taft,” said Sonya Jindal Tork, co-chair of Taft’s Gender Advancement Committee.

Other law firms ranked in the top 10 included Baker Botts; Brooks Kushman; Dechert; Goodwin Procter; Morrison & Foerster; Perkins Coie; Reed Smith; Sheppard Mullin; and White & Case.