Choate Joins Effort to Support Workplace Equality for Women

Choate today announced that it has joined the Corporate Challenge, a groundbreaking initiative by Bentley University’s Center for Women and Business to increase workplace gender equality and more effectively harness the talents of women employees.  The Corporate Challenge, among the first of its kind in the nation, seeks to assess gender diversity in the workplace, recruit women to senior positions and close wage gaps.

The Corporate Challenge is an extension of the Women in the Workplace Initiative, an effort by former Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick to advance women across the Commonwealth in both the public and private sectors.  Massachusetts Governor Charles Baker has given his support to the Corporate Challenge and the effort continues to grow, with more than 100 companies now having joined.  Participating companies commit to define their gender-inclusiveness goals, develop strategies to meet those goals and track their progress.

“Diversity and inclusiveness are strategic priorities and core values at Choate,” said Charles Cheever, co-managing partner at Choate.  “Taking on this Challenge is one more way that we can continue to build a work environment and culture that facilitates the success of women attorneys at every level of practice.”

As the first major law firm in Boston to elect women to its equity partnership, Choate has a long-standing commitment to hiring, retaining and promoting women attorneys.  Women partners sit on the committees principally charged with overall firm governance, and the Hiring Committee is co-chaired by a woman partner.  In addition, five of the firm’s practice groups are chaired by women partners.

“We are proud to partner with forward-thinking Massachusetts organizations that understand that workplace gender balance is critical to the economic success of Massachusetts,” said Betsy Myers, founding director of Bentley University’s Center for Women and Business.  “By sharing best practices and their own experiences, organizations participating in the Corporate Challenge are taking real steps to advance women in the workplace and improve their own bottom line.”

Bentley University’s Center for Women and Business is focused on helping women reach their full potential in the workplace and helping corporations engage the full potential of talented women leaders.  The Center’s research and programs provide a roadmap for organizations and individuals alike to move this critical conversation forward.