Women's Initiative

Baker Donelson’s Women’s Initiative Committee is one element in our ongoing commitment to expand diversity and promote the value that female attorneys bring to our Firm. Not only does this commitment meet the expanding expectations of our clients, it also represents our own philosophy.

Our Women's Initiative Committee was formed to (1) substantially improve the recruitment and retention of women attorneys; (2) increase the representation of women in leadership positions at the Firm; (3) heed the call of our clients to provide a more diversified attorney team; and (4) improve career development for our female attorneys, thereby enhancing the economic viability of the Firm.

Female attorneys do the same work as their male counterparts, yet they may approach this work with a different perspective. We feel that our female attorneys should have a forum to address and discuss the unique challenges they face in maximizing economic viability and leadership potential and balancing family and personal goals. All new female attorneys are offered a mentor to help them navigate the challenges they face in today’s law environment.

The Initiative also works closely with our recruiting committees to make professional opportunities available for women and attract the best talent for these positions.

The Baker Donelson Women's Initiative seeks to:

• Increase recruitment of female attorneys to increase their numbers at all levels and increase the number of women in the pipeline to shareholder status.
• Develop greater gender diversity in leadership positions and client representation.
• Conduct professional development targeted at female attorneys.
• Create meaningful opportunities for mentoring and networking.

Female attorneys occupy leadership roles across the Firm, serving on the board of directors, as office managing shareholders, as practice group chairs and as heads of committees. Women make up 17% of the current board and 20% of Baker Donelson’s shareholders are women. In 2009, we were named one of the country’s top law firms for women by Multicultural Law magazine for the second year in a row.

We also encourage our attorneys to be active outside of the Firm. Our female attorneys are members and leaders of many organizations dedicated to the advancement and development of women in the legal and business worlds. Those attorneys have served in the following organizations as members and officers:

• American Bar Association Women Rainmakers – Past chair, members
• American Health Lawyers Association – First woman president
• Association for Women Attorneys – Members
• Commercial Real Estate Women Network – Member and Industry Research Subcommittee Member
• Defense Research Institute – Member of DRI Young Lawyers Women’s Initiative subcommittee
• Georgia Association of Women Lawyers – Members
• International Women’s Forum – Member
• Memphis Regional Chamber – Board member
• Mississippi Women Lawyers Association – Members
• Nashville CABLE – Chair of the Women on Boards Committee
• National Association of Women Lawyers – Member
• Samaritan Counseling Centers of the Mid-South – Board member
• Southeast Tennessee Lawyers Association for Women – President
• Tennessee Lawyers Association for Women – Corresponding secretary, members
• Women’s Healthcare Executives Network – Members
• Women’s Health Network, Greater New Orleans – Charter member
• Women’s International Shipping and Trade Association – Member
• Women’s Leadership Initiative of the United Way, Greater New Orleans Chapter – Charter member, founder

In 2008, the Firm introduced BakerReads, a videoconference book club geared toward offering women attorneys professional development opportunities. Since then, a number of sessions led by women attorneys have been offered in all of our offices.

Finally, Baker Donelson works to support women’s health issues in its major markets. In addition to establishing Susan G. Komen race teams, the Women’s Initiative has also sponsored American Heart Association Go Red for Women fundraisers in several cities.

Events
Since its inception, the Women's Initiative has worked to develop a number of meaningful networking and professional development events throughout our offices.

Continuing Legal Education Programs for In-house Counsel
For the fourth year, in 2009 the Firm presented continuing legal education programs to women clients in our Memphis, Nashville and Birmingham offices. Receptions followed the presentations in each office. Topics included:

What to Expect When You're Suspected: What Every In-House Attorney Should Know Before the Government Comes Knocking - Nashville

Internal Investigations and Litigation Cost Control: Ethical Considerations for Corporate Counsel – Memphis

Networking Events - 2009
In 2009, the Firm’s women attorneys hosted a number of professional networking and social events for women business leaders and attorneys in several of our markets:

• Wellbeing for Women – Monroe Carell Children's Hospital at Vanderbilt tour and lecture - Nashville (June)
• Women and Wine: Summer Art Soiree - Baton Rouge (June)
• Viking Cooking School programs and receptions - Memphis (July) and Jackson (October)
• Wealth, Wellness and Wisdom for Women – New Orleans (September)
• Public House Wine Tasting – Chattanooga (October)
• Southern Automotive Conference reception – A Chocolate Affair – Nashville (October)
• Classic Cars and Cocktails – Birmingham (November)
• Wine Tasting – Baton Rouge (November)
• Wine and Artists Reception – New Orleans (December)