The Gender Pipeline Problem at Law Firms

By Erik Sherman, Special to Big Law Business

When people say Big Law has a gender diversity problem, they typically point to the scarcity of chairwomen, or to the equity partnership ranks themselves, where only 18 percent are women.

But what about in middle management, a potential talent pipeline for top leadership positions to be filled in the next decade? The question surfaced in late January when BakerHostetler appointed Joann Gallagher Jones managing partner of its Atlanta office and Big Law Business sought more information. The answer proved hard to come by.

“I don’t think anybody has statistics on the regional leadership positions,” said Marsha Anastasia, president of the ...