Covington & Burling sponsors the Washington, DC, chapter of the Women in Law Empowerment Forum, a group that supports female attorneys and staffers who work at top companies and legal firms.

Women are 22% of the partnership at this law firm—no small feat in an industry with few females at the top, especially if you consider that nearly one third of the firm’s partner promotions went to women in 2011. Talented attorneys are drawn by its support for flextime and appreciate the day care center at its Washington, DC, office and 15 days per year of subsidized backup care, available in New York City, San Francisco and Washington, DC. Associates get private mentoring from senior lawyers for their first three years in the Washington, DC, office; as they move through the ranks, they benefit from initiatives such as the Diversity at Covington campaign, which promotes the skills and experience of female attorneys to clients.

Chair, Management Committee Timothy Hester

Chief HR Officer Annette Wigton

Women managers/execs 43%

Women hires in 2011 49%

Average weeks of fully paid maternity leave offered 18

Offers paid paternity leave? Yes

Offers paid adoption leave? Yes

Women in affinity groups in 2011 37%

Offers backup child care? Yes

Employees working flexibly 100%