Sedgwick Women's Forum

Walking the talk.

Sedgwick is committed to the retention and advancement of women attorneys.  We recognize that strong women leaders are a business imperative.  We appreciate and value the unique insight, talents and skills Sedgwick's women lawyers bring to their roles.

Sedgwick has undertaken particular efforts to support the firm's women attorneys.  In 2003, Sedgwick joined Catalyst, a non-profit research and advisory organization dedicated to advancing women in the business. In the same year, we became a signatory of the Bar Association of San Francisco's "Breaking the Glass Ceiling Commitments," which comprised specific steps towards breaking the barriers to leadership positions within the legal profession.

In 2004, the firm kicked off the "Sedgwick Women's Forum," a group designed to provide a platform for Sedgwick's female attorneys to voice their professional development needs, recommend programs to enhance the role of women in the firm and the profession, and develop programs that foster professional growth and networking opportunities for women attorneys.

2005 Women's Forum activities included the sponsorship of the San Francisco Business Times' annual "Top 100 Women-Owned Companies" honors reception, which honors the fastest-growing segments of the top women-owned businesses; the ABA Commission on Women in the Profession's "Annual Margaret Brent Women Lawyers of Achievement Awards Luncheon" which pays tribute to talented women attorneys; and the "National Association of Women Lawyers Annual Awards Luncheon," which recognizes the professional achievement, positive influence and valuable contribution to women in the law and in society.

In 2006, four women were among the six attorneys promoted to partner and within the firm Sedgwick's women lawyers chair practice groups and three women (out of 14) serve on the firm's management committee.

Overall, Sedgwick now has 26 women partners (out of 120 total partners) placing Sedgwick above industry standards according to the National Association of Law Placement, which states that 18 percent of the partners at major law firms nationwide were women in 2006.

We are proud to be the leaders in this area and remain committed to walking the talk.