WDI (Women's Development Initiative)

"Toughness doesn't have to come in a pinstripe suit."
-- Dianne Feinstein, politician

Founded in May 2008, Saul Ewing's Women's Development Initiative (WDI) is comprised of a core group of female attorneys representing a cross-section of the firm's offices and legal practices who are dedicated to promoting the professional growth of the firm's female attorneys. Support from the WDI ranges from advocating for women attorneys to become partners and hold leadership positions in the firm to sponsoring business development seminars and serving as a sounding board for women attorneys to discuss personal and professional issues influencing their careers.

Receipt of WILEF Certification

In July 2011, Saul Ewing was honored with the Women in Law Empowerment Forum’s (WILEF) Gold Standard Certification Award. It was the first year that the WILEF offered the award, which requires law firms to prove - through statistics - that they have integrated women into the highest leadership positions in the firm. WILEF was founded in 2007 in New York City and has grown to be an international organization dedicated to increasing opportunities for women in law firms.

Recognition from the Pennsylvania Bar Association

In 2011, for the second time in three years, Saul Ewing was honored by the Pennsylvania Bar Association by being named to its Honor Roll of Legal Organizations Welcoming Women Professionals. It was also named to the list in 2009. The PBA Commission on Women in the Profession selected the honorees by reviewing programs and initiatives statewide that help women lawyers advance. The Commission cited the establishment and evolution of the WDI as a key factor in its decision to again honor Saul Ewing.

Recent accomplishments

February 21, 2012 – Indira K. Sharma, a member of the Litigation Department and Vice Chair of the Diversity Committee, was one of five panelist who participated in a Diversity Symposium on February 17th that was hosted by the University of Baltimore Law School’s Black Law Students Association....FULL STORY 

January 18, 2012 – WDI Chair Teresa K.D. Currier, a partner in the Bankruptcy and Restructuring Practice, will be honored February 23, 2012 with the 2012 Honorable Sylvia H. Rambo Award.

The recipient is chosen by the Women’s Law Caucus of the Penn State Dickinson School of Law. It honors a woman in the legal profession who has had a distinguished career and who, by example, has made the professional success of other women more likely. Judge Rambo graduated from then-Dickinson School of Law in 1962. She was appointed by President Jimmy Carter to serve on the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania in 1979 where she served until 2001. Terri also graduated from Penn State Dickinson School of Law.

Terri was the committee's unanimous choice, said Robin Fulton, Director of Alumni Relations.

A reception to honor Terri will be held February 23 in the school’s Lewis Katz Hall in Carlisle, PA.

January 3, 2012 – Michelle N. Lipkowitz, a partner in the Litigation Department, has been named to the Movers and Shakers list in the November/December 2011 issue of Diversity & The Bar, which is published by the Minority Corporate Counsel Association.

Michelle focuses her practice on complex litigation involving contractual disputes, shareholder disputes, consumer class actions, mortgage fraud, lender liability, construction and products liability. She represents clients in a range of industries, including financial, retail and telecommunications.

Michelle is a member of the ABA's Section of Litigation where she co-chairs the Diversity Subcommittee of the Woman Advocate Committee. She is also a selected participant for the Working Group on CLEs for Diverse Counsel. She received her undergraduate degree from Harvard University and her law degree from Georgetown University Law Center.  

 December 20, 2011 – Deborah L. Spranger, vice chair of the Business and Finance Department and co-chair of the firm's Life Sciences Practice Group, was elected to the board of directors of the Chester County Keystone Innovation Zone (KIZ), a program by the Chester County Economic Development Council. The Chester County KIZ is a powerful initiative that is aligning and rallying the area's best resources to support growing life science, biotechnology and information technology companies. Debbie will serve a one-year term, beginning  January 1, 2012.

KIZs are a state-wide initiative of Governor Edward G. Rendell to build knowledge-based economies and cultivate entrepreneurship in Pennsylvania. It is a geographically designated zone that is designed to foster innovation and create entrepreneurial opportunities.  

For more information on the Chester County KIZ, please click here.

December 8, 2011 – Catherine E. Walters and Emily H. Bensinger, partner and associate, respectively, in the Labor, Employment and Employee Benefits Practice Group, teamed up twice this month to present an employment law forecast. On December 1, prior to the Central Penn Business Journal's annual awards program, "Best Places to Work in PA," Catherine and Emily presented the 2011 Employment Law Update and 2012 Forecast. One week later, they presented, "Criminal Background Checks, 2012 Labor and Employment Update and Directors and Officers Liability," to the Central Pennsylvania Chapter of the Association of Corporate Counsel 2011 CLE and Holiday reception in the Pennsylvania State Museum. In November, Catherine presented the annual Labor and Employment Law Update and Forecast at the Pennsylvania Bar Institute's 17th Annual Business Lawyers' Institute in Philadelphia.

December 2, 2011 - Clients and friends of Saul Ewing LLP converged on the firm's Princeton, NJ office December 1 for a networking and shopping reception that raised money to support Womanspace, Inc. and Women's Way.

Womanspace, Inc. is a nonprofit agency in Mercer County, NJ that provides services to individuals and families impacted by domestic and sexual violence. Programs include crisis intervention, emergency shelter, counseling, court advocacy and housing services. Women's Way funds dozens of organizations in Philadelphia and surrounding counties (including Southern New Jersey) that work with women, girls and families.

Against a backdrop of fashionable clothing, attendees shopped and nominated their favorite women's charities to receive one of two monetary awards, 1) a $500 donation and 2) a percentage of the evening's sales.

Womenspace will receive the $500, while Women's Way will receive a percentage of the evening's sales.

"We wanted to host a meaningful event for our female clients and contacts," said Karen Palestini, partner and member of the WDI Steering Committee. "What better way than to offer "one-stop shopping" knowing that a percentage of the sales would go to a charity that helps women and families in our community? We are thrilled with the result and proud to financially assist such deserving organizations."

To view photos from the reception, please click here.

November 16, 2011 – Megan  E. King, an associate in the Litigation and Project and Resource Development departments, has been named to the 2011 Pro Bono Roll of Honor, awarded by the First Judicial District of Pennsylvania.

The First Judicial District encompasses all of Philadelphia's judicial system. Recognizing that access to justice should not be reserved for those that can pay, each year the Court names to its Roll of Honor those Philadelphia attorneys that have provided free legal service to those in need of representation in matters pending in the District.

Megan volunteers for the Philadelphia VIP, regularly representing tenants and homeowners in landlord/tenant disputes and tangled title actions.

Founded in 1981, Philadelphia VIP provides legal services for low-income residents and families facing civil legal problems that threaten their basic human needs - shelter, employment, financial stability, education and health.

Congratulations, Megan

October 20, 2011 - Saul Ewing LLP is pleased to announce that it has added two distinguished female partners to its ranks. Both partners are members of the firm's Litigation Department.

Doreen M. Zankowski, resident in the Boston office, is an experienced litigator and transactional/contracts attorney. Doreen focuses her practice on construction, engineering, business, real estate development and environmental law.

Michelle N. Lipkowitz will practice out of the Baltimore office. She represents clients in the financial, retail and telecommunications industries in litigation involving contractual disputes, shareholder disputes, consumer class actions, mortgage fraud, lender liability, construction and products liability in various state and federal courts throughout Maryland and across the country.

Events