Women in Law Empowerment Forum Awards Stoel Rives Seventh Consecutive Gold Standard Certification

Portland, Ore. — Stoel Rives LLP is pleased to announce that the firm has received its seventh consecutive Gold Standard Certification from the Women in Law Empowerment Forum ("WILEF"). WILEF is a leading organization for women in law dedicated to assisting women in the largest law firms and corporate law departments in advancing their careers through developing a sense of empowerment and becoming leaders.

The certification process focuses on whether women were significantly represented in a firm’s top leadership positions, as equity partners and among its top-earning attorneys. Of several hundred law firms solicited, Stoel Rives is one of only 44 law firms nationwide to meet the certification requirements, which saw one new criterion added for 2017, and one of only 14 to be certified all seven years since the inception of the award.

“Receiving this certification from WILEF is very gratifying. The certification recognizes the values Stoel Rives seeks to build in our workplace culture,” said Tim Taylor, chair of the firm’s Diversity and Inclusion Committee. “We make every effort to enhance diversity throughout the legal profession by striving to offer varying professional opportunities for our women lawyer colleagues and by participating in programs such as the OnRamp Fellowship.”

The OnRamp Fellowship is a re-entry program for experienced women in the legal and financial services industries who want to return to those professions after a period of time away. It offers participants career development through education, training, and one-on-one coaching with career experts. Two attorneys have joined Stoel Rives through the program.

The WILEF Certification criteria require that the number of women at a firm meets four or more of the following criteria:

• Women account for at least 20 percent of equity partners or alternatively, 33% or more of attorneys who became equity partners during the past twelve months.
• Women represent at least 15 percent of firm chairs and U.S. office managing partners.
• Women make up at least 20 percent of the firm's primary governance committee.
• Women represent at least 20 percent of the firm's compensation committee.
• Women make up at least 25 percent of U.S. practice group leaders or department heads.
• Women represent at least 15 percent of the top half of equity partners in terms of compensation.
• Women of color represent at least 7 percent and/or women who are LGBT represent 3.5 percent of equity partners. [new for 2017]

About Stoel Rives LLP: Stoel Rives is a leading U.S. corporate and litigation law firm. One of the largest national firms focused on energy, natural resources, environment and climate change, Stoel Rives also serves the agribusiness, food and beverage, health care, life sciences and technology industries. With more than 350 attorneys operating out of 10 offices in seven states and the District of Columbia, Stoel Rives is a leader in regulatory and compliance matters, and business, labor and employment, intellectual property, land use, and real estate development and construction law.