New York (August 11, 2009)—For the second consecutive year, Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP has been named among the Best Law Firms for Women by Working Mother magazine and Flex-Time Lawyers LLC. The annual survey recognizes law firms whose policies best promote the retention and advancement of women lawyers. Firms are selected based on their workforce profile, family-friendly benefits and policies, flexibility, leadership, compensation, and advancement and retention of women, among other criteria.

For many years, Davis Polk has been at the forefront of creating policies and resources geared toward helping women advance in their practices while striking a balance with their lives outside the firm. Examples include the firm’s family leave and flex-time policies; women's and parents' affinity groups; a variety of women-specific training events and discussion forums; and participation in a wide range of women’s organizations in the broader legal and business communities. The firm’s leadership on women’s issues is reflected in its ability to retain and promote female attorneys. Twenty percent of Davis Polk’s partners are women – 25 percent more than the national average. Women lawyers also lead numerous practice groups and committees throughout the firm.

“We salute the 2009 Best Law Firms for recognizing that making the legal profession work for women is good business for everyone,” said Carol Evans, President, Working Mother Media.

“We are honored to once again be named among the best law firms for women,” said Carey R. Dunne, a litigation partner and member of Davis Polk’s Management Committee. “The efforts we make across the firm in attracting, retaining and promoting women lawyers reflect the firm’s core values and are an essential part of our business.”

“We are proud of our 2009 Best Law Firms for Women because they understand that when the market improves, the war for talent will return and they will be better positioned to recruit and retain the best and brightest,” said Deborah Epstein Henry, Founder and President, Flex-Time Lawyers. “Big salaries and bonuses will no longer be the pivotal means for firms to draw the best talent, and culture and environment will become more important ways for firms to distinguish themselves.”

Profiles of the 2009 Best Law Firms for Women are featured in the August/September issue of Working Mother and at www.workingmother.com and www.flextimelawyers.com. Winning firms will be honored at a luncheon at the Pierre Hotel in New York on September 15.

Methodology: The 2009 Best Law Firms for Women application was developed in a partnership between Working Mother and Flex-Time Lawyers. Firms with at least 50 lawyers were eligible to apply and the application included detailed questions about the issues that are most important to the retention and promotion of female lawyers. The 50 winning firms were selected based on their workforce profile, family-friendly benefits and policies, flexibility, leadership, compensation, advancement and retention of women, among other criteria utilizing 2008 data.