Women’s Initiative
Women’s Initiative
In 1971, Cravath became one of the first “Wall Street” law firms to elect a woman partner. Since that time, we have remained committed to ensuring that women are represented and supported at all levels of the Firm.
Cravath Celebrates its Long History of Women Lawyers
In 1936, Cravath hired its first woman lawyer. On January 14, 2016, the Cravath partners hosted a reception at The Metropolitan Museum of Art to celebrate the contributions—to Cravath and to the legal profession—of the more than 1,000 women lawyers who have worked at the Firm since that time.
Opportunities To Connect
As part of a multi-faceted effort to recruit and retain excellent women lawyers, the Women’s Initiative hosts events throughout the year including:
- Monthly lunches
- Firm-wide guest speaker presentations
- Various receptions hosted by the Women’s Initiative
Associate-Driven Initiatives
Our associates have spearheaded a number of events that address topics of particular interest to them. For example, groups of associates have organized lunchtime discussions about women and leadership, “the imposter syndrome” and effective communication. Programs like these provide a welcome opportunity to engage in candid, small-group discussions with partners and associates.
The Women’s Initiative includes several associate-led working groups that focus on organizing special events, recruiting women law students and implementing programming that enhances women's experiences at the Firm.
External Outreach
The Women’s Initiative hosts speakers from both the nonprofit and corporate sectors to speak to our associates. An alumnae panel included the General Counsels of Tiffany & Co., ANN INC. and FactSet Research Systems, each of whom discussed her career path and shared insights about in-house counsels’ expectations of the lawyers they retain.
Women’s Initiative Partner Co-Chairs: Bethany Pfalzgraf (Corporate), Claudia Ricciardi (Corporate) and Brittany Sukiennik (Litigation).
