Beyond Bias

The lack of women in power positions represents a poor return on investment for law firms, and could be costing them far more than they think in both economic and cultural terms. Quite aside from the widely accepted understanding that more diverse teams perform better, research shows that it actually costs more and takes longer to replace female partners than their male colleagues. Moreover, the scarcity of women mentors could be having a long-lasting effect on up-and-coming female associates. The problem is far from new but law firms' usual answers - business development training, diversity programs, investment in "women's initiatives" - doesn't seem to be having much of an effect, despite the collective millions firms are spending on these. The numbers of women attaining power positions in law firms have remained static for decades. By contrast, the percentage of women holding GC positions in Fortune 500 companies is growing, and women are increasingly likely to be found in in-house roles. Packed with fascinating insight, experience, and research from a broad range of lawyers, coaches, academics, thought leaders, and consultants, Beyond Bias: Unleashing the Potential of Women in Law considers just how much firms are costing themselves by failing to promote and retain talented women, the reasons their efforts have so far seen so little return, and the practical steps they can take to start to move the needle. We'll also consider what women can do more of to create and seize opportunities, claim credit where it's due, and get the most out of their business development efforts, wherever they practice. "Beyond Bias redresses some ancient wrongs with practical observations although who can say where we are going and where we will end up: the book is a major start on this new road so do read it soon." review by Elizabeth Taylor of Richmond Green Chambers and Phillip Taylor MBE, Head of Chambers and Reviews Editor, "The Barrister". See the full review here.

Auteur

Patricia K. Gillette Patricia K. Gillette is one of the country's leading experts and most sought-after speakers on gender diversity and equality. She was a top-rated employment lawyer and litigator for 40 years as well as a major rainmaker in her firms. In 2015 she resigned as a law firm partner to pursue her passion for changing the legal profession as an author and keynote speaker. Patricia was also invited to join JAMS and now spends some of her time mediating employment-related cases. In her writings and presentations, Patricia focuses on how to succeed in the high-powered, fast-paced business environment of today. Relying on research studies she commissioned, as well as her own experiences and charismatic style, Patricia is able to inspire audiences to think positively and practically about how they can realize their personal and business goals. She also brings thought-provoking ideas on how to bring meaningful change to law firm and corporate structures to increase diversity and inclusion. In recognition of her work to advance women in the profession, she has received several awards, including the ABA Golden Hammer Award, the California Women Lawyers Association's Fay Stender Award, the Transformational Leadership Award as one of the Top Women Rainmakers, and the Barristers Association of San Francisco Award of Merit. Patricia is the co-founder of the 2006 Opt-In Project, the first nationwide initiative to refocus the discussion from work-life balance to the structural issues that impact the retention and advancement of women in the workplace. She has been a commissioner on the ABA Commission on Women in the Profession, the ABA's Gender Equity Task Force, co-chair of the BASF No Glass Ceiling Initiative, and she serves on non-profit boards, including Direct Women, which is dedicated to placing women attorneys on boards of public companies. Patricia is the proud mother of two successful and enlightened sons and lives in Kensington, California with her husband of 42 years. She is an elected official of her town and active in community organizations and activities. For more information visit Patricia's website at www.patriciagillette.com. Paola Cecchi-Dimeglio Paola Cecchi-Dimeglio, J.D., LL.M., Ph.D., is a behavioral economist and chair of the Executive Leadership Research Initiative for Women and Minority Attorneys at the Center for the Legal Profession at Harvard Law School and a Senior Research Fellow, jointly appointed at HLS and Harvard Kennedy (WAPPP). She can be reached at pcecchidimeglio@law.harvard.edu. Audra A. Dial Audra Dial is the managing partner for Kilpatrick Townsend & Stockton LLP's Atlanta office. Audra is an experienced litigator practicing in the firm's nationally recognized Patent Litigation Team, in addition to handling complex commercial litigation involving technology. She focuses her practice on complex federal court litigation involving trade secrets, patent disputes, restrictive employment covenants, and complex business disputes involving intellectual property. Audra has obtained favorable verdicts in many high-profile intellectual property disputes, including on behalf of several Fortune 500 companies. She has represented companies whose intellectual property was misused both domestically and abroad. Audra was recognized by Children's Healthcare of Atlanta as one of 2016's Women of Substance and Style and by the Atlanta Business Chronicle as a Woman Who Means Business in 2015. She received the Tapestri 2015 Legal Team of the Year award for her pro bono efforts on behalf of a victim of human trafficking. In 2014, Audra was recognized by Pathbuilders with the Inspiria Award and by the Daily Report in its 2014 Verdicts Hall of Fame for intellectual property litigation. Audra was honored by the State Bar of Georgia and the Georgia Supreme Court Chief Justice's Commission on Professionalism in 2013 with a Justice Robert Benham Community Service Award for her significant contributions to her community beyond her legal work. She is a member of the Leadership Atlanta class of 2016 and the Leadership Georgia class of 2014. Audra has also been recognized as a 2011 POW! Award winner by Womenetics, a 2011 IMPACT Leader by Business to Business magazine, 2010 "Up and Comer" by the Atlanta Business Chronicle, Junior League Woman to Watch, a Georgia "Super Lawyer" from 2013-2015, and was recognized as one of the top 50 women attorneys in Georgia in 2016. Audra has been profiled by Chambers and Partners in its Women in Law section. Audra earned her J.D. from William and Mary School of Law. She is involved with the Trade Secrets Committee of the Intellectual Property Owners Association, Women in Electronic Discovery, and the National Association of Women Lawyers. Audra received her Bachelor of Arts from American University, where she graduated cum laude in Interdisciplinary Studies. Cathy Fleming Cathy Fleming is a refugee from Big Law and a name partner in a nine-lawyer firm with offices in New York City and the Meadowlands, New Jersey. Previously she served as chair of a White Collar Group, Chair of Tax Investigations Group, and as managing partner of a New York City Office of several AmLaw 200 firms. Cathy is a former federal prosecutor, including serving as chief of special prosecutions as an assistant united states attorney in the District of New Jersey. Cathy focuses her practice on complex civil litigation and white-collar criminal cases. She has extensive experience in commercial, securities, employment, tax, antitrust, health care law, and international extraditions. Cathy has tried more than 60 cases to verdict, most of which have been in federal courts, including in New York, New Jersey, Florida, Texas, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, Illinois, and California. She conducts internal integrity audits and investigations for corporations and public bodies. She also provides counsel to corporate management and committees and has represented members of special …