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W W W. M A I N E B I Z . B I Z 17 N OV E M B E R 1 2 , 2 0 1 8 F O C U S L AW roles throughout the firm, including as chairs of practice groups and on management committees. In 2018, the numbers put Verrill Dana among the top 10 law firms in the country for gen- der equality for the second year a row, as scored by the National Law Journal. Rider, who started there as a sum- mer clerk in 1992, echoes Conway's role model observation. "When I came here, there were already women who were successful and in leadership positions," says Rider. "When women come here, they see how successful women have been. ey see the numbers, so they can see them- selves having a career here. I think the fact that much of the leadership is made up of women is helpful to that. And of course we've always taken seriously development opportunities, mentoring and sponsorship — and all of that is regardless of gender." Diversity task force activities include surveys to ensure the company is taking steps that include and value attorneys and staff, recommendations for associate mentoring and development, work- ing with the firm's hiring committee and speaker programs on topics like unconscious bias. Attorneys are active in organizations that broaden profes- sional opportunities for underrepre- sented members of the legal profes- sion, including the Connecticut Asian Pacific American Bar Association, the Massachusetts LGBTQ Bar Association and the Asian American Lawyers Association of Massachusetts. Verrill Dana annually reviews pay and promotion parity to avoid unconscious Addressing harassment E ffective Jan. 1, 2019, revised Maine Bar Association rules include a continuing legal education requirement related to the recogni- tion and avoidance of harassment and discriminatory conduct or com- munication on the basis of race, sex, religion, national origin, ethnicity, dis- ability, age, sexual orientation or gen- der identity. In a Maine Lawyers Review arti- cle discussing the need for the rule, Pine Tree Legal Assistance Executive Director Nan Heald wrote female attorneys experienced "wildly inap- propriate" conduct and gender bias, including unwanted touching and sex- ually suggestive comments. traction GAINED DEPENDABLE VALUATIONS. DEFENDABLE RESULTS. Valuation issues are complicated. Gain traction with a seasoned team of valuation experts from Northern New England's largest assurance, tax and consulting firm. • Business Appraisal • Lost Profits • Shareholder Disputes • Economic Damages Visit berrydunn.com or call 800.432.7202. Where the Legal World Meets the Real World C O U N S E L O R S A T L A W ( 2 07 ) 94 7 - 4 5 01 w w w. r u d m a nw i n c h e l l . c o m Intellectual Property Employment Entity formation Contracts Financing Incorporation Patents Real Estate Business Disputes Venture Capital Bridging the gap between your business needs and legal needs. REPUTATION | TRUST | EXPERIENCE | RESULTS C O U N S E L O R S A T L A W C O N T I N U E D O N F O L L OW I N G PA G E »