In the Last Four Years at Debevoise, the Majority of New Partners are Women
For the last four years, the majority of new partners at Debevoise & Plimpton have been women.
The law firm has announced 15 new equity partners from 2008 to 2011, and nine have been women, the Careerist reports. The percentage of females attaining partnership outpaces that of other large law firms such as Cleary Gottlieb, Latham & Watkins, Weil Gotshal, Simpson Thacher, and Sullivan & Cromwell, the blog says.
The Careerist is impressed. “I’m used to law firms trying to sell me about how swell they are to their ladies,” the blog says. “They tell me about their women’s initiatives, mentoring programs, spa parties. Yada, yada. Too often, though, when you look behind those niceties, you find that women lack actual power. … But I have to admit I’m impressed with Debevoise & Plimpson’s recent track record.”
Debevoise partner Mary Beth Hogan attributed the numbers to role models, mentoring, training and a long-time part-time program. The part-time policy is unique because it is automatic, Hogan told the blog. “You don’t have to go to your boss and have that uncomfortable conversation and make it a big deal,” she said.
