Mission Statement
“To demonstrate Saul Ewing's commitment to the success of its women attorneys by fostering opportunities for professional, social and personal growth for all women attorneys and promoting the attraction and retention of women attorneys, their successful development of business, and their advancement to partnership and leadership roles within the Firm."
Saul Ewing's Commitment to Women
Saul Ewing’s Women’s Development Initiative is an effort that grew out of a desire for a formal Firm commitment to support its female attorneys. After a planning session to which all of the Firm’s female attorneys were invited, several women –representing a cross-section of the Firm’s nine offices -- founded the Committee in 2008 to promote the professional growth of the Firm’s female attorneys. The Committee now consists of 15 women.
The Kickoff
A reception for all attorneys was held on May 20, 2008 at Brasserie Perrier in Philadelphia to announce the Committee’s formation with Managing Partner David S. Antzis saying the commitment to female attorneys involves all of us. Carol Ann Petren, Vice President and General Counsel for Cigna Corp., spoke at the reception, which nearly 100 attorneys attended. During her talk, Petren credited Saul Ewing for establishing a formal program to support female attorneys. “What you are doing at Saul Ewing needs to be done,” she said. “I can't overstate how valuable a diverse setting is, and I can tell you, at CIGNA, it influences our choice of law firms. It is something we look at quite carefully.”
To date, the committee has hosted a number of firm-wide and female-attorney only events designed to foster client and internal relationships in new and creative contexts. The Committee has proven to be an effective force in creating business and career development training opportunities specifically for our women lawyers.
Leadership
Members