Verrill Voices: Interviews with the 2018 Mainebiz Women to Watch

Left to Right: Dava Davin, Kristina Egan, Joan Fortin, Clayton Spencer

Each year, Mainebiz recognizes the achievements of exceptional female leaders in their "Women to Watch" feature. The four honorees for 2018 have unique backgrounds but each has used a formula of passion and purpose to achieve success.

In this Verrill Voices series, we sat down with each honoree to learn more about how she is transforming her business and community, and to discuss the challenges and successes she sees, both in and out of the office, as an influential leader.

HEAR FROM THE 2018 MAINEBIZ WOMEN TO WATCH!

	Dava Davin, Principal & Owner of Portside Real Estate Group Interviewed by Gretchen Johnson, Verrill Dana's Director of Marketing
	Kristina Egan, Executive Director of the Greater Portland Council of Governments Interviewed by Juliet Browne, Environmental Partner and Chair of the firm's Environmental Group and Co-Chair of its Energy Group
	Clayton Spencer, President of Bates College Interviewed by Suzanne Meeker, Employee Benefits & Executive Compensation Partner and Chair of the firm's Employee Benefits & Executive Compensation Group
	Joan Fortin, Shareholder, Board Member, and Director of Attorney Recruiting at Bernstein Shur Interviewed by Tawny Alvarez, Labor & Employment Partner

While women continue to narrow the gender gap in what have been male-dominated industries, there is still work to be done to achieve true gender equality in the workplace. Verrill Dana is proud to be leading the charge when it comes to gender equality in the legal industry. At the end of 2017, nearly 38% of the attorneys at Verrill Dana were women and 40% of the firm's equity partners were female, surpassing national averages for firms its size by approximately 3% and 20%, respectively. Verrill Dana was recognized as one of the top ten law firms in the country for gender equality by the National Law Journal in both 2017 and 2018.

"Many leaders talk about the importance of gender parity within their firms," explains K.C. Jones, Managing Partner at Verrill Dana. "We, however, are proud to say with confidence that we are making great strides, ensuring that all attorneys are given opportunities to succeed and grow as vital members of the firm. We hope others within the profession will follow suit until we have truly achieved gender equality within the legal industry as a whole."

Verrill Dana was also named a 2017 Law360 Ceiling Smasher and was ranked in Law360's 2015 and 2016 Glass Ceiling Reports for its commitment to gender equality.