Back in 1957, attorney Ellene Winn became the first female partner at this law firm, which made her the first woman to hold that role at any southeastern firm of this size. It’s a legacy that makes management rightly proud, and the firm tries to honor it by maintaining the Winn Initiative, an internal women’s career development group that offers formal mentoring, networking events and training sessions on work life balance, leadership and negotiation. To the same end, the firm annually sends a female partner to the nine-month Momentum program near its headquarters, providing that participant with a valuable opportunity to hone her business and financial skills while preparing for a senior position. Attorneys who seek more flexible schedules can adjust their workweeks, switch to hourly arrangements, telecommute or cut their hours by 40% or more; at present, two female counsel are even working remotely from cities without a firm office.

Female Equity Partners 13%

Female Nonequity Partners 17%

Lawyers Working Reduced Hours 7%

Pictured: Anne Marie Seibel, Dorothy Pak, Kay K. Bains and Jennifer J. McGahey.