Venable is now a member of the prestigious Women in Law Empowerment Forum (WILEF), a group "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." Just a glance at the list of other participating firms will show that we are in good company with top tier law firms.
WILEF is active in Washington, New York City, San Francisco, Boston, Chicago, Houston and soon London. Our membership gives all Venable attorneys (men and women) nationwide access to all WILEF programming for no additional charge. Programs are led by and attended by senior men and women at top law firms and corporations around the country. Sponsor firms are also given opportunities to speak at or lead the programs within their market(s). The first 2015 NY event will be March 24 and DC is likely to be April 8 (the topic will be "How To Position Yourself for Success" and Venable's own Kishka F. McClain will be a panelist). Be on the look-out for upcoming programs in your or other markets. Past programs are available for viewing on the WILEF website.
We are also pleased to announce that three of our female partners, Doreen S. Martin, Jessica L. Grant and Stephanie L. DeLong, have been invited to join the WILEF Advisory Board in each of the NY, SF and DC markets, respectively. Other WILEF board members include women from AIG, Morgan Stanley, CBS, Stuart Weitzman, McKesson Corporation, Gannett and other AM Law 100 law firms. Advisory Board members discuss issues important to the promotion of women in the legal industry and provide guidance on programming.
WILEF caters to junior lawyers as well. They have a Young Lawyers Committee that meets to discuss "programming that will appeal to junior women lawyers with the goal of helping position them as future leaders from the earliest stages of their careers." Hillary S. Profita in the NY office has agreed to serve on the WILEF Young Lawyers Committee.