Phillips Murrah is proud to announce that the Firm has been recognized with a 2023 Empowering Women award. According to the Oklahoma City business newspaper that presented the award, The Journal Record, the Empowering Women Awards highlight companies and organizations that focus on supporting and elevating women in Oklahoma.
Phillips Murrah Attorneys pictured from left: Director Erica Blackstock, Managing Partner Dawn Rahme, and Associate Jonna Vanderslice receive recognition and an award at the 2023 Empowering Women Awards in Oklahoma City on July 13, 2023.
The following is a portion of the Journal Record’s article about Phillips Murrah, which appeared in the 2023 Empowering Women publication:
Phillips Murrah leads the way in closing the gender gap in the legal profession, for which they have been nationally recognized as “Ceiling Smashers” for three consecutive years by Law360’s annual Glass Ceiling Report.
In May 2023, Phillips Murrah completed the Mansfield Plus Certification, a data-based, 16-month diversity initiative for law firms facilitated by Diversity Lab. Mansfield Rule Certification measures whether law firms have affirmatively considered at least 30% women and other underrepresented groups for internal leadership roles. The goal of the Mansfield Rule is to boost the representation of diverse lawyers in leadership by broadening the pool of candidates considered for those opportunities.
Equity Partner and Chair of the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee Candace Williams Lisle said, “It is noteworthy that a number of women attorneys at Phillips Murrah, including equity partners, have returned to the practice of law after career breaks. Phillips Murrah champions and supports talented women at every stage of life.”
Each year, Phillips Murrah sponsors the Women in Law Conference hosted by the Oklahoma Bar Association. Additionally, Phillips Murrah is a sustaining sponsor of the National Association of Women Lawyers. NAWL’s events and resources help bring awareness to gender-based topics and challenges within the legal profession. NAWL’s advocacy initiatives address current and ongoing gender equality issues across the country.
Phillips Murrah’s ultimate goal is to hire and retain the most talented attorneys. The fact that so many are women demonstrates the great strides women have made in the legal profession. Currently, nearly 50% of the firm’s equity partners are women, and its highest managing body, the Executive Committee, is composed of 50% women.
“I am more than grateful for a supportive workplace that values family,” said Natalie M. McMahan, new mom and attorney at Phillips Murrah. “Beyond Phillips Murrah’s thoughtful parental leave policy, my colleagues have celebrated and supported me and my daughter through my pregnancy, leave, and my return to work.”
2023 is the inaugural year for The Journal Record’s Empowering Women Awards. The awards reception event was held on July 13 at the Oklahoma History Center.