Verrill Voices: Interviews with the 2018 Mainebiz Women to Watch

September 13, 2018 Podcast


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.

Firm Highlights

Event

Maine HR Convention: Workshop A: Out of Sight, Out of Mind-Legal Implications of Proximity Bias

Join Verrill's Tawny L. Alvarez at the 2023 Maine HR Convention where she will be presenting Workshop A:Out of Sight, Out of Mind-Legal Implications of Proximity Bias. Proximity bias can raise discrimination issues for...

News

Verrill's Norman Belanger and Betts Gorsky Featured in Mainebiz Article

News

David Lazarus Quoted in Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly Article Regarding Cryptocurrency Whistleblowing.

Matter

Elections and Constitutional Law: Successfully Challenged Certification of Initiative Petition

In a victory for consumers and the ride-hailing public, the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court recently barred the Secretary of State from placing on the November ballot initiative petitions proposed by companies such as Uber...

Event

Maine HR Convention: Workshop C: What Every Plan Sponsor Needs to Know-Your Fiduciary Duties in 2023

Join Verrill's Christopher S. Lockman at the 2023 Maine HR Convention where he will be presenting Workshop C: What Every Plan Sponsor Needs to Know-Your Fiduciary Duties in 2023 . This workshop will review...

Blog

HR Power Hour with Sabine Gedeon

Publication/Podcast

Whole Foods Win Shows Workplace Rules Can Shield Cos.

Verrill attorney Liz Johnston was recently published in Law360 for her article “Whole Foods Win Shows Workplace Rules Can Shield Cos.” In the article, Johnston discusses the recent decision in Kinzer v. Whole Foods...

Blog

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Proposes National Drinking Water Standard for Six PFAS Compounds

On March 14, 2023, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (“EPA”) announced a proposed National Primary Drinking Water Regulation (NPDWR) for six per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (“PFAS”). PFAS are a category of manufactured chemicals that...

Publication/Podcast

Say What You Mean, Mean What You Say…Gorelick v. Star Markets: A Study in Indemnity

Indemnity clauses in contracts are a valuable tool for allocating risk among the contracting parties, most often risk attendant to personal injury and property damage, and their effect can be far-reaching. Despite their significance...

Matter

Advised Fortune 500 Company on Group Health and Welfare Benefit Plans

We were engaged by a Fortune 500 manufacturing company to provide legal and compliance services regarding its group health and welfare benefit plans. During the course of our representation, we have advised the company...

Contact Verrill at (855) 307 0700