illsbury Winthrop received the "Corporations That Make a
Difference Award 2001" from the International Women's Forum this
past weekend in Singapore.
The exclusive international networking organization -- which has
in the past honored Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O'Connor and
former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright -- gives the annual
awards to corporations that demonstrate a commitment to equality and
progress for women.
The other corporation honored at the weekend conference, which
firmwide managing partner Marina Park attended on behalf of the
firm, was Singapore-based United Overseas Bank.
"It was an award that was given because of the firm's achievement
over time," said Park, who tried to take the emphasis off of the
fact that Pillsbury has a woman chair, Mary Cranston.
"The leadership position that Mary and I have was of great
interest to the IWF, but I think you can just describe it as icing
on the cake," she said. "The law firm has consistently demonstrated
progress in giving women opportunities."
Aside from Cranston and Park, women comprise 45 percent of
Pillsbury's non-partners, 25 percent of its 16 office managing
partners and 20 percent of its partners.
It was also the first major San Francisco law firm to elect a
woman to partner, which it did in 1971 with the elevation of partner
Toni Rembe.
But Avis Caravello, a legal recruiter in San Francisco, said
it is the presence of women in the highest tiers of management -
in particular Cranston - that make the firm stand out from other
Bay Area firms.
"You see women at a lot of firms in No. 2 or 3 roles, but you
don't often see them in the primary role," Caravello said.
"Perhaps there could very well be law firms with better or equal
numbers in associate ranks for female attorneys, but Pillsbury really
excels in female leadership and that's what's hard to bridge in
a law firm."
