Each for Equal

Have We Entered the Era of the Woman Law Firm Leader?

“I think this is a great time for women to be emerging in leadership roles in law firms,” Morgan Lewis Chair Jami McKeon told Law360 in an interview. “It’s long overdue, but it's a natural evolution of all the things firms have put in place over a series of years.”

How a Labor Defense Lawyer Wins the Moral High Ground in #MeToo Fight for PBS

In this National Law Journal article and Litigator of the Week feature, Morgan Lewis partner Grace Speights discussed her victory on behalf of PBS in a “trial to remember.” “With the backdrop of the #MeToo movement, and PBS’s unyielding commitment to stand up for what was right, the case was so much more than the interpretation of contracts,” Grace said in the article.

What Law Firms (And Men) Can Do to Improve Gender Diversity, According to Top Female Lawyers

“From our perspective, whilst providing exceptional client service is of course imperative, it is essential that all lawyers receive the mentoring and support they require and the appropriate flexible working opportunities so that they feel they can achieve their best. This is something we care passionately about for all of our partners and employees,” said Morgan Lewis London office managing partner Frances Murphy in a Law.com article.”

Law Firms Focus on Equality for International Women’s Day

Morgan Lewis partner Joanne Soslow, who heads the firm’s ML Women initiative, told Bloomberg how the firm is celebrating its lawyers, staff, and clients in the run-up to International Women’s Day. Joanne shared that the firm has internal and external events to mark the day as part of its ML Women initiative, including a traveling exhibit honoring the 100th anniversary of women’s right to vote.

Making Time to Make an Impact

In a Washington Lawyer article about her work with the DC Bar Pro Bono Center’s Advice & Referral Clinic, Morgan Lewis partner Jocelyn Cuttino discusses how it’s important to make time to give back. “When we think back about the reasons we went to law school, we probably all had a shared goal of wanting to help people and have a positive impact on the lives of others. We may not have had any idea what that would look like at the time. But now, having practiced for some number of years (even if just a few), the reality is that it is not difficult, nor does it take much time, to be impactful,” Jocelyn wrote in the article.

Meet the Managing Partner: Q&A with Lisa Barton

Lisa Barton, managing partner of Morgan Lewis’s Boston office, was featured by the Boston Bar Association in its Meet the Managing Partner series. In the feature, Lisa discussed why she became a lawyer, the Boston legal market, and what makes Morgan Lewis stand out. “I have always felt supported and that my opportunities are limitless and it is very important to me to support and help others in the same way,” said Lisa. “I am a mother and a wife and I have personal interests in addition to being the best attorney that I can be—and all aspects of my life are valued at Morgan Lewis.”

Achieving with Success Under Adverse Conditions

Nancy Yamaguchi was interviewed by Nikkei, a leading business news outlet in Japan, about her journey to becoming a Morgan Lewis partner. Despite encountering gender stereotypes early in her career, Nancy strived to “make lemonade when life gives you lemons” and was encouraged by mentors to “just be yourself.”