Arnold & Porter Named a 2009 Working Mother 100 Best Company; Sixth Consecutive Year on the List

Washington, DC, September 22, 2009-Working Mother magazine named Arnold & Porter to its 2009 Working Mother 100 Best Companies list today. Arnold & Porter has earned this recognition ten times, including for the past six years. It is the only law firm in 2009 also to be named to FORTUNE's "100 Best Companies To Work For" and The American Lawyer's "A-List" of top 20 law firms. In addition, Arnold & Porter was named to the 2009 Yale Law Women's "Top Ten Family Friendly Law Firms" list.

"We are honored by this recognition and applaud Working Mother for their steadfast support of this important issue," said Richard M. Alexander, Arnold & Porter's Managing Partner. "Working mothers are a vital part of our work force. Our goal is to have programs and benefits in place to enable them to balance their professional life with the needs of raising a family."

Arnold & Porter was highlighted for its on-ramp/off-ramp policy allowing attorneys to take a leave of absence for up to three years before returning to work, while covering their bar association fees and encouraging them to participate in professional development and alumni events. The firm was also noted for its child care center in the Washington, DC office and a similar capability near the New York office; an employee-wide benefit of 18 weeks paid maternity leave; and six weeks of paid leave for employees with a sick family member. Statistics cited for the firm include: 40% of the managers and executives are women; 50% of top earners are women; and 46% of the  corporate executives hired in 2008 were women.

"The Working Mother 100 Best Companies stand head and shoulders above the rest," said Carol Evans, CEO, Working Mother Media. "For example, in the last year, we saw the number of companies nationwide offering flexible work arrangements diminish five percentage points, while Arnold & Porter stayed steady at 100 percent. Arnold & Porter provides leadership where and when we need it most, furnishing a framework of support for working families during good times and bad. If all companies adopted these best practices, more families could weather the economic storm."

Working Mother magazine Editor-in-Chief Suzanne Riss added, "Moms are increasingly becoming the sole breadwinners in many households as men lose their jobs at a higher rate than women. Now more than ever, our readers and all working mothers need the support of their employers. By offering benefits like paid maternity leave, the ability to work from home and wellness programs, as well as programs that enhance financial well-being, Arnold & Porter is helping to reduce stress in the busy lives of working moms. Arnold & Porter epitomizes family-friendly support at its best."

Arnold & Porter was selected for the 2009 Working Mother 100 Best Companies list based on an extensive application with more than 500 questions. The application included detailed questions about workforce, compensation, child care, flexibility programs, leave policies, and more. It also checked the usage, availability and tracking of programs, as well as the accountability of managers who oversee them. Seven areas were measured and scored: workforce profile, benefits, women's issues and advancement, child care, flexible work, parental leave and company culture, with particular weight given to benefits, flexibility, and parental leave.