Neal, Gerber & Eisenberg Wins Two Honors
Neal, Gerber & Eisenberg LLP has been recognized with two honors recently: of the 50 best law firms for women and one of the top Illinois law firms for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) inclusiveness and equality.
For the eighth consecutive year, the firm has been included on Working Mother and Flex-Time Lawyers’ list of the 50 best law firms for women in recognition of the firm’s commitment to retaining and promoting women lawyers.
This annual list recognizes law firms that implement family friendly policies and promote career development initiatives that help retain women attorneys and advance them into the leadership pipeline.
The firm was praised for hiring consultants that helped the firm identify and eradicate gender bias in the workplace. The firm was also commended for launching coaching and business development initiatives for female partners, and offering a flexible work schedule that permitted a third of the firm’s women attorneys to work reduced hours in 2015.
“We’re very proud to once again be recognized by Working Mother and Flex-Time Lawyers for our commitment to women,” said Patricia S. Cain, partner and co-chair of the firm’s Women’s Network. “The firm works hard to support female attorneys in what can be a difficult profession. We firmly believe that doing so not only benefits our colleagues, but significantly benefits our clients as well.”
Neal Gerber Eisenberg’s Women’s Network looks to address the unique needs of women in the workplace through a variety of venues, including lunch-and-learn programs, networking and social events, a parent mentoring program, and a policy group focused on advocacy issues important to women’s professional success. The firm encourages women to attain leadership roles at the firm and consistently seeks innovative solutions to the unique issues impacting women in the workplace.
In June of this year, Leah A. Schleicher, partner in the Real Estate practice group, represented the firm in the inaugural Women in Law Hackathon, a Shark Tank-style pitch competition aimed at generating new and effective ideas to close the gender gap in law firms.
Neal Gerber Eisenberg and other firms included on the list will be honored at the Best Law Firms for Women Gala Awards Luncheon on September 21.
LGBT Award
The firm also has again been honored as one of the top Illinois law firms for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) inclusiveness and equality by Equality Illinois. The firm has received this distinction each year since 2006.
“Neal Gerber Eisenberg is proud to once again be recognized by Equality Illinois as one of the top Illinois law firms for LGBT inclusiveness and equality,” said Scott J. Fisher, firm managing partner. “As we celebrate our 30th anniversary, I am proud that we continue to focus on maintaining a culture of equality and inclusion to support our LGBT attorneys and staff, and to promote creativity, opportunity and professional development throughout the firm to better serve our clients.”
Equality Illinois, the state’s oldest and largest organization advocating for LGBT equality, conducts an annual survey to identify the top Illinois law firms for providing a welcoming and fair work environment for LGBT employees, and engaging with the LGBT community.
The firm is a member of the Lesbian and Gay Bar Association of Chicago, regularly supports various law student organizations, including OUTLaw, is an annual sponsor of Equality Illinois’ Justice for All Gala as well as various Lambda Legal events, and participates in the National LGBT Bar Association’s Lavender Law Conference and LGBT Legal Expo.
Neal Gerber Eisenberg and other recognized firms were honored at the “Raising the Bar” breakfast on July 26, which featured U.S. District Court Judge Staci M. Yandle, the first openly LGBT judge in the Seventh Circuit and the first African-American District Judge in the Southern District of Illinois. The firm was also included in the Equality Illinois publication “Raising the Bar: Law Firms Leading the Way to LGBT Equality.” This publication highlights top firms, publicizes the survey findings, and includes recommendations for firms seeking to increase their workplace diversity and equality.
