Holland & Hart is recognized as one of the best law firms for female partners on Law360’s “ceiling smashers” list of equity partnerships with the highest representation of women. Law360’s Glass Ceiling report surveyed more than 300 U.S. firms on gender diversity, ranked firms based on the percentage of female equity partners in the U.S., and categorized the firms into tiers depending on firm size. With 29.6% female equity partners compared to a national average of 21%, Holland & Hart ranks third in the 300-599 attorneys tier.
This year, the Glass Ceiling report again showed “little progress has been made in the upper echelons of the legal profession to provide equal opportunities for women,” and notes, the “lack of women in the highest ranks at law firms doesn’t correlate with the high percentage — more than 50% — of women in law school, and the nearly 50% of women who are in nonpartner roles.”
Holland & Hart has long been in the vanguard of supporting the professional success of women attorneys—both within the firm, by providing training, mentoring, policies that support a healthy work-life balance, and leadership opportunities; and outside the firm, by encouraging business development opportunities. The first woman was admitted into Holland & Hart’s equity partnership in 1978 and the first female Managing Partner was appointed in 1998. Today, 40% of the firm's management and compensation committee members are women, 42% of practice group leaders, and one-third of office managing partners are women. Current firm Chair, Liz Sharrer, is the second woman elected by the partnership to lead the firm.
The firm is constantly striving to find new and creative ways to remain a workplace where women can thrive. Holland & Hart was among the trailblazing firms that participated in the inaugural Mansfield Rule, a program managed by the Diversity Lab with the goal of boosting the representation of female and diverse lawyers in law firm leadership by broadening the pool of candidates considered for these opportunities. Holland & Hart was one of 41 firms to achieve Mansfield Rule Certification and one of only 27 firms to achieve Mansfield “Plus” Certification. The firm is now participating in Mansfield Rule 2.0, which expands the program to include LGBTQ+ lawyers as well as women and diverse attorneys; requires firms to measure consideration for participation in client pitch meetings; and requires transparency in leadership appointment and election processes.