Women Leaders of the Am Law 100: The Law of Small Numbers

In this article, The American Lawyer investigates how many women partners have advanced to top leadership roles at Am Law 100 firms. The author mentions Finnegan’s “tradition of giving younger partners a voice in management,” as demonstrated by managing partner Barbara Clarke McCurdy. "As a third-year partner in 1996, McCurdy was appointed to a special 10th seat on the compensation committee to represent young partners. Almost 15 years later, McCurdy became managing partner as she was just turning 50, at the peak of her practice. ‘At some firms the managing partner is floating out toward retirement. The mentality here is letting the next generation lead the firm, and that naturally creates openings for women,’ she says.”