Ice Miller in top 5 of female equity partners

A look at data by the National Law Journal found that Indianapolis-based Ice Miller LLP is third among large law firms in the number of women equity partners. Another firm with Indiana connections also placed high on the list.

The NLJ looked at its 250 survey, which looks at the largest firms in the country to compile its list. Almost 27 percent of Ice Miller’s equity partners are female. Only New York-based Fragomen Del Ray Bernsen & Lowey LLP, and Charleston, W.Va.-based Jackson Kelly PLLC, could boast higher numbers at 42 percent and 28.4 percent, respectively.  

Jackson Kelly has offices in Indianapolis and Evansville.

Only the firms that provided gender breakdowns of their equity partners for 2011 were ranked by the NLJ.

In an article by the NLJ about its findings, Ice Miller deputy managing partner Brenda Horn says that a culture of inclusion is key and that “women felt accepted” at the firm. In a news release from the firm, she points out that Ice Miller was one of the first major firms in Indiana to elect a woman to the partnership and to welcome a minority female into the partnership ranks.

Other firms with Indiana ties ranked include Hall Render Killian Heath & Lyman P.C., which came in at 20 with 20.78 percent female equity partners, and Baker & Daniels (now Faegre Baker Daniels LLP) had 17.03 percent female equity partners and ranked 73. Faegre & Benson, which merged with Baker & Daniels Jan. 1, was ranked 27 with 20.45 percent.

Frost Brown Todd LLC ranked 107 with 15.37 percent female equity partners; Bingham Greenebaum Doll LLP (created by the merger Jan. 2 between Bingham McHale and Louisville-based firm Greenebaum Doll & McDonald) came in 110 with 15.15 percent. Barnes & Thornburg LLP ranked 129, with 13.95 percent.