Steptoe Recognized as a 2008 Best Law Firm for Women

For more information, contact Jamie Moss, newsPRos, 201-493-1027

Washington, DC (August 12, 2008)— Steptoe & Johnson LLP, a leading international law firm, has been named a 2008 Best Law Firm for Women by Working Mother magazine and Flex-Time Lawyers LLC.

“Steptoe is delighted to be among the firms recognized for their ongoing efforts to redefine the standards of success in the legal profession by creating a workplace that encourages the retention and advancement of women,” said Antonia B. Ianniello, a partner in Steptoe’s Washington, DC, office, a member of the firm’s Executive Committee, Chair of its Insurance Practice Group, and Co-Chair of its Women’s Forum. “Our firm has long recognized that women in the legal profession confront unique challenges. We’ve responded with formal and informal programs that recognize these hurdles, and help our women reach their individual goals.”

According to Carol Evans, CEO of Working Mother Media, nearly half of today’s law school graduates are women.  “Law firms need to make a fundamental shift in their policies by instituting female and family-friendly benefits, as Steptoe & Johnson has done,” she said. “We hope that by recognizing Steptoe, who has already moved the needle, a paradigm shift will follow.”

Steptoe was selected by Working Mother and Flex-Time Lawyers for recognition based on its achievements in areas such as workforce profile, family-friendly benefits and policies, flexibility, leadership, compensation, advancement and retention of women.  The firm earned top marks for its provision of flexible work options, as well as for its compensation practices, management and leadership training, internal and external communications, and business development and mentoring supports for female attorneys.

“Women partners have long held firm management roles at Steptoe,” said Ms. Ianniello. “Two women partners have served as Vice Chair of the firm, three women currently serve on the firm’s Executive Committee, and women serve as department heads and practice group leaders.  Women partners also have chaired both our Compensation Committee, with responsibility for partner compensation, and our Professional Advancement Committee, with responsibility for attorneys' advancement to partner. Our women attorneys not only participate across the board, they are leading the firm into the 21^st century.”

Today, 20 percent of Steptoe’s partners are women.  Three of them – Ms. Ianniello, Lucinda Low and Jane Ryan – serve on its Executive Committee; Sandy Chamblee holds the roles of Chief Diversity Partner, co-chair of the Diversity Committee and co-chair of the Hiring Committee; and many others hold significant roles in  management and leadership.  Women and minorities comprised 48% of Steptoe’s 2007 associate class; women comprised 37 percent of the firm’s 2008 summer associate class.

Steptoe’s achievements are profiled in the August/September issue of Working Mother and at www.workingmother.com and www.flextimelawyers.com.  The firm will be honored at a luncheon at the Mandarin Oriental in New York on September 15.  That morning, Working Mother and Flex-Time Lawyers will hold a forum to report for the first time the findings of their national research on the trends and share best practices of work/life balance and women in the legal profession.

The 2008 Best Law Firms for Women methodology was developed in a partnership between Working Mother and Flex-Time Lawyers.  Firms nationwide with at least 50 lawyers were eligible to apply.

 “We hope other law firms will take notice of Steptoe’s commitment to change and competition will drive more creative ways to enhance work/life balance and improve the status of women in the profession,” said Deborah Epstein Henry, Founder and President, Flex-Time Lawyers LLC.

About Steptoe & Johnson LLP
With more than 500 attorneys, Steptoe & Johnson LLP provides counsel and representation in a wide range of legal fields. In more than 60 years of practice, the firm has gained a national and international reputation for vigorous representation of clients before governmental agencies, successful advocacy in litigation and arbitration, and creative and practical advice in guiding business transactions. The firm has offices in Washington, New York, Chicago, Phoenix, Los Angeles, Century City, London and Brussels.

About Working Mother Media
Founded in 1979, Working Mother magazine reaches 2 million readers and is the only national magazine for career-committed mothers.  Its 22-year signature initiative, Working Mother 100 Best Companies, is the most important benchmark for work/life practices in corporate America.  Working Mother is published by Working Mother Media, which was founded in 2001.  Working Mother Media includes the National Association for Female Executives (NAFE), Diversity Best Practices, the WorkLife Congress, the Multicultural Women's Conference and Town Halls.  Working Mother Media's mission is to champion culture change. For more information, please visit www.workingmother.com.

About Flex-Time Lawyers LLC
Flex-Time Lawyers LLC® is a national consulting firm advising lawyers, law firms, bar associations, law schools and corporations on work/life balance, business development, women's initiatives, re-entry of comeback professionals and the retention and promotion of women.  It hosts a membership organization with chapters in New York and Philadelphia, offering networking opportunities, support, career guidance, education and information sharing to effect change.  Flex-Time Lawyers LLC is a resource to the press and legal community at large on work/life balance and women's issues and also provides recruiting services.  It has been covered extensively in the national and legal press, including The New York Times, NBC Nightly News with Brian Williams, National Public Radio, The Boston Globe, The Los Angeles Times, The Philadelphia Inquirer, National Law Journal, New York Law Journal, and numerous others.  For more information, please visit www.flextimelawyers.com.