SEATTLE, Wash. (July 7, 2015) - Perkins Coie is proud to announce it has received 2015 Gold Standard Certification from the Women In Law Empowerment Forum (WILEF) for women representing a meaningful percentage of the firm’s highest leadership positions. One of only 44 firms honored with this recognition, this is the fifth year in a row that Perkins Coie has received this accolade.

The WILEF Certification emphasizes the leadership roles achieved by equity women partners, rather than the policies or practices of the firm or the overall number or percentage of women in the partnership. Law firms with 300 or more practicing lawyers in the United States are eligible for the 2015 WILEF Gold Standard Certification if they successfully demonstrate that women represent a meaningful percentage of their equity partners, of their highest leadership positions, of their governance and compensation committees, and of their most highly compensated partners.

“The advancement of women attorneys is a strategic goal at Perkins Coie; we recognize that it is critical to the future success of our firm and the profession,” stated John Devaney, Managing Partner of Perkins Coie. “The Perkins Coie Women’s Forum and leaders of our Diversity team collaborate with firm management for the professional growth of our women lawyers. Perkins Coie is pleased and honored to be recognized a fifth time by WILEF for our efforts in supporting and promoting our women lawyers.”

The WILEF Fifth Anniversary Gold Standard Gala luncheon will be held on September 10 at The Yale Club in New York City.

Perkins Coie is well recognized for its commitment to women and minority attorneys. In 2015, the firm received a top rating of 100 percent in the Corporate Equality Index from the Human Rights Campaign Foundation (2009 – 2015); recognized as one of the “100 Best Companies to Work For” for 13 consecutive years by Fortune (2003 – 2015); named the Third most female-friendly company in U.S. by Fortune and noted as one of the Top 50 best U.S. law firms for minority attorneys by Law360. Perkins Coie has been named among the “Best Law Firms for Women” by Working Mother/Flex-Time Lawyers (2008, 2009, 2011 – 2014).

About the WILEF: Founded in 1997 by Elizabeth Anne “Betiayn” Tursi, with the support of R.R. Donnelley and several successful senior women attorneys, and subsequently, of law firm and corporate sponsors, WILEF is dedicated to assisting women in law to assume leadership roles within the NLJ 250 and Fortune 1000 legal departments and within their respective communities. WILEF presents cutting edge programming that provides an educational and networking forum for women in law.

Perkins Coie is a leading international law firm that is known for providing high-value, strategic solutions and extraordinary client service on matters vital to our clients’ success. With more than 1,200 lawyers in offices across the United States and Asia, we provide a full array of corporate, commercial litigation, intellectual property, and regulatory legal advice to a broad range of clients, including many of the world’s most innovative companies and industry leaders as well as public and not-for-profit organizations.

Media Inquiries: Please email Justin Cole, Head of Media Relations.