(CHICAGO) Katten Muchin Rosenman LLP announced today that, for the eighth consecutive year, the firm has been named to the list of "100 Best Companies for Working Mothers" by Working Mother magazine. The firm was honored for its outstanding leadership in establishing policies, programs and a corporate culture that support working moms, including child care, flexible work arrangements, paid parental leave and advancement of women.

"It's always an honor to be included among this distinguished group of companies and as we celebrate our eighth year on the list, we are still as committed as ever to ensuring that Katten provides its employees with innovative and flexible workplace policies," said Vincent A.F. Sergi, Katten Chairman. "We want to ensure that our firm provides the right combination of support during different stages of life so that we can retain valuable talent long term." 

Katten is one of only four law firms recognized on the list. The firm was specifically lauded for new initiatives such as "mentoring clusters," "fireside chats" and retreats that bring women at all levels together to discuss balancing career advancement and family life and that were described by Working Mother as "another smart innovation from its Women's Leadership Forum." The magazine also referenced Katten's Work Life/Development Task Force, which evaluates the firm's programs regularly including maternity/paternity leave, flexibility and training with the input of senior leadership and a diverse group of representatives.

"I'm very proud to work for a firm that is committed to addressing the needs of working parents and invests in programs and policies that address those needs," said Karin Berg, Insolvency and Restructuring partner and national chair of Katten's Women's Leadership Forum. "Katten's leadership in this area is due to the dedication and foresight of many people at the firm that have made progressive work life policies a priority, and year after year Katten continues to fine tune our programs and examine new ways to support working parents."

Katten offers innovative leave and flexibility policies. For example, to ease the transition back to work, Katten offers attorneys the 60/60/80 Program following the firm's three-month paid maternity or adoption leave. This includes a 60 percent work schedule for the first two months following maternity leave and an 80 percent work schedule for the third month. In addition, after completing a fifth year of work at the firm, an associate at Katten can take a one-month paid sabbatical that can be added onto maternity leave.

Employees at Katten can request alternative work schedules allowing them the flexibility to meet both client and family needs. Subsidized coverage is also offered for emergency backup child care or care for aging parents in the home or at a facility in a location of preference.

Carol Evans, president, Working Mother Media, said, "The Working Mother 100 Best Companies are the leaders in the advancement of women by supporting their need to integrate family and work successfully. We are thrilled to honor the US companies that put words into action and build family-friendly cultures on the foundation of thoughtful policies and effective programs. Women now make up 50 percent of our workforce. We need to make sure they have the support to be outstanding moms as well as great employees."

The 2014 Working Mother 100 Best Companies application includes more than 450 questions on leave policies, workforce representation, benefits, child care, advancement programs, flexibility policies and more. It surveys the availability, usage and tracking of programs, as well as the accountability of managers who oversee them. This year's assessment gave particular weight to representation of women, advancement programs and flexible work arrangements. Working Mother magazine reaches more than two million readers and is the only national magazine for career-committed mothers.

In August, Katten was named one of the 50 "Best Law Firms for Women" by Working Mother and Flex-Time Lawyers.