Women’s Initiatives Committee
Kramer Levin is committed to creating and maintaining an environment where its women can flourish and become leaders in the legal community, both inside and outside the firm. Representation by women in the firm's senior and partnership ranks continues to increase.
The Women’s Initiatives Committee, an energetic and active group comprised of both men and women, works hard to address issues of importance to women at the firm, improve the recruitment, retention, and advancement of women attorneys, and increase the representation of women in leadership roles. Business development and networking are key components of the Committee's efforts, and the firm consistently facilitates opportunities for women to create business connections and develop their practices.
Among the programs overseen by the Women’s Initiatives Committee are the following:
Training
Our women attorneys are encouraged to participate in a variety of training sessions and CLE programs focusing on skills development, networking, work/life balance, business development, and other topics tailored to their interests. Programs have included:
- A “BRAG Workshop” on effective self-promotion
- Meetings of Flex-Time Lawyers LLC®, a group that addresses work/life balance and the retention and promotion of women attorneys
- A lecture by best-selling author Deborah Tannen discussing communication differences between men and women
- Speeches by clients and other outside speakers on tips for success, rainmaking, and effectively building a book of business.
Networking and Social Events
A variety of professional and social activities are conducted periodically throughout the year for the benefit of our women attorneys.
Internal lunches bring together women attorneys from all departments to promote networking, encourage cross-selling, and foster a sense of community within their ranks.
External lunches feature prominent New York women from many fields, resulting in a lively exchange and cross pollination of ideas across disciplines. Past lunches have been addressed by a United States District Judge, the General Counsel of several prominent companies and foundations, the chief finance officer of a national real estate company, and a number of other notable women from the business world.
We also host an annual women’s social event for our attorneys and clients. Past events have included a Women's Billiards Night and a Women’s Poker Night. These events regularly draw more than 100 prominent female business executives and lawyers to network and socialize.
Part-Time and Leave Policies
Recognizing the challenges of balancing professional and personal responsibilities, the firm’s part-time and child care leave policies are both generous and flexible. These policies are open to all our attorneys, women and men alike. Any attorney can request a part-time schedule which include three day or four day options. Likewise, any attorney is entitled to leave in connection with a birth, adoption or foster care placement, and can follow that leave with a reduced work schedule on a long-term basis. Attorneys in all departments of the firm, and at all levels of seniority (including partners), have availed themselves of these benefits.
Our Commitment
The firm is a signatory to the Association of the Bar of the City of New York’s “Statement of Goals of New York Law Firms and Legal Departments for the Retention and Promotion of Women," which provides our commitment to, among other things, the full and equal participation of women in all levels of our firm.
We also back a number of legal organizations aimed at supporting women, including: Flex-Time Lawyers LLC, the New York State Bar Association's Committee on Women in the Law, the National Association of Women Lawyers, and the New York City Bar Association’s Committee on Women in the Profession.