WILEF Recognizes Shook’s Continuing Commitment to Women in Leadership Roles

The Women in Law Empowerment Forum (WILEF) included Shook among a select group of law firms across the country for the firm’s commitment to the promotion and retention of women in leadership. Shook is one of 29 firms in the U.S. selected this year amid increased criteria for the recognition. Shook has now earned WILEF’s Gold Standard Certification for the 11th consecutive year, receiving certification every year since WILEF initiated the standard. 

Criteria for selection is based on major law firms meeting a number of metrics including having women as 25% of equity partners or, alternatively, 40% of the attorneys becoming equity partners during the past 12 months; and 10% of women equity partners being women of color or 4% of women equity partners being LGBTQ+.

“Obviously this year was a difficult one for U.S. law firms to attain the Gold Standard, said WILEF Global Chair Elizabeth Tursi. “At this time last year, we had 48 firms. It is obvious that upping the criteria made the difference. That said, upping the criteria was necessary as we move the needle forward.” 

This recognition aligns with the firm’s goal of creating an inclusive workplace and a more diverse legal industry. In January, Shook was included in the Human Rights Campaign’s (HRC) Corporate Equality Index, a national benchmarking tool of companies creating positive workplaces for members of the LGBTQ+ community. This is Shook’s 13th consecutive year to receive a 100% ranking in HRC’s index.