Law.com: Women-Owned Law Firms Surging Amid Gender Disparity in the Profession

Law.com’s family of publications, including the New York Law Journal and Texas Lawyer, recently profiled Culhane Meadows and other women-owned law firms in an article about the growth of female-led law firms despite the lingering gender disparity within the legal profession. Here is a relevant excerpt:

Work-life balance is often pegged as the reason women leave traditional law firms. But for the growing number of women establishing their own firms, their departure is often rooted more deeply in gender inequality in the profession than in raising children or having more free time.

***

By founding their own firms, women are crafting new game rules that provide for fair compensation, equal promotions, full inclusion and better career development opportunities.

***

In 2013 when Kelly Rittenberry Culhane of Dallas co-founded Culhane Meadows Haughian & Walsh, a virtual firm with lawyers across the country, she and her co-founders wanted a different way to practice that was fully inclusive regardless of gender, background or race. It wasn’t woman-owned in the beginning, but now it’s earned a certification as a Woman Business Enterprise, as well as membership in NAMWOLF.

Today, 40 percent of the 57 partners are women, Culhane said. Of the five equity partners, three are women—which comes to 60 percent.

Culhane said that she and her co-founders have crafted a culture at Culhane Meadows that allows partners to have life outside of the law firm. Lawyers are encouraged to take the time they need for a baby’s birth, a death in the family, a sick child or simply to attend a kid’s basketball game, she said. Another perk for partners—women and men—is that the compensation structure is set by contract, transparent and the same for everyone. Partners keep at least 80 percent of the money they collect.

“We have a more inviting culture to women because women are the ones who traditionally had to put their lives on hold either to follow their husbands or to have children,” said Culhane, who was previously an associate at Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld.

Download and read the full article HERE.

*Culhane Meadows is ranked by U.S. News/Best Law Firms in Technology Law, Bankruptcy/Reorganization Law, and Information Technology Law. This website and the communications herein may be considered attorney advertising. Previous results are not a guarantee of future outcome. This website is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. The information herein is not intended to create an attorney-client or similar relationship. Until you establish such a relationship and receive an engagement letter, you have not hired a Culhane Meadows attorney nor become a client of the firm. Whether you are a new or existing client of the firm, Culhane Meadows must determine that there is no conflict of interest and that it is willing and otherwise able to accept the new engagement before representing you on a new matter. Only if and after Culhane Meadows has informed you it is willing and able to accept your new matter should you send the firm any information or documents that you consider private or confidential. Such information will not be treated as private, confidential or otherwise protected from disclosure until Culhane Meadows has communicated in writing that it is willing and able to accept your new matter and provide you with legal counsel. Whether you need legal services and which lawyer or law firm you select are important decisions that should not be based on this website alone.

Accessibility Toolbar