Ellen McLaughlin Quoted in Chicago Daily Law Bulletin
Seyfarth Shaw Earns High Marks for Promotion of Women to Partner

Ellen McLaughlin was quoted February 25, 2009 in the Chicago Daily Law Bulletin on the percentage of women promoted to partner this year. The article reported on the number of female promotions of surveyed firms with Chicago offices. According to the survey of 100 law firms conducted by the Project for Attorney Retention, women made up 40 percent of the new partners named for 2009 at 23 of the law firms surveyed, while 14 other firms failed to promote any women to the partnership. The article noted that Seyfarth Shaw LLP, named 8 women out of 18 total attorneys (44 percent) promoted to partner in 2009 .

Ellen, who has worked at Seyfarth for nearly 30 years and is chair of the firm's Women's Network, remarked, "We have an increasing momentum that I see resulting in the promotion of more women into partnership." She further noted, "I think that is due to a dedicated effort over the last several years to promote our women to partner." Ellen noted that Seyfarth Shaw 's leadership team has actively supported the effort to retain and promote women to partnership. She further noted that Seyfarth Shaw provides a culture of flexibility, allowing attorneys to work from home and other remote locations, to work reduced hours and to take time off when necessary. Ellen concluded, "I really think that this culture of flexibility is important to retaining women, as well as other attorneys, especially those who are junior."