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#Women In Law Empowerment Forum (WILEF)

As Global Chair of WILEF, it gives me great pleasure to welcome you to the Women in Law Empowerment Forum (WILEF) web site. Now in its ninth year, we continue to build out WILEF as the premier organization for women in law exclusively dedicated to women from the largest law firms and corporate law departments in the United States. The importance of helping women in law achieve their career goals cannot be minimized. In today's environment law firms are focused on retaining existing clients and developing new business. Part of the equation involves fostering the retention and promotion of women.

Currently WILEF presents cutting edge programming in six markets--WILEF East (New York, New Jersey, Connecticut), WILEF West (San Francisco and Palo Alto), WILEF DC (Washington D.C. and its surrounding area), WILEF Chicago (Chicago and its surrounding area), WILEF Southwest (Houston and Dallas) and WILEF Boston. In late June of 2015 we will launch WILEF London.

Working with me on programming and initiatives is WILEF East Co-Founder, Peggy Cohen, Co-Founder and National Co-Vice Chair, WILEF West and National Co-Vice Chair, WILEF Southwest, Natasha Innocenti, Co-Vice Chair, WILEF East and WILEF Boston, Janet Markoff, Co-Founder, Lisa Snow and Co-Vice Chair, Elizabeth McCloy, WILEF Chicago, Co-Founder, Jane Sullivan Roberts and Co-Vice Chair, Ellen Ostrow, WILEF DC and International Co-Vice Chair, Melinda Wallman,WILEF London The newly-created Office of the National Chair will be headed by Alitia Faccone. WILEF leadership is comprised of the following co-chairs: WILEF East is co-chaired by Phyllis Korff, Patti Skigen and Jennifer Zimmerman. Mary Huser, Pam Martinson and Amy S. Park co-chair WIILEF West. Lauren Degnan and Jessica Hough co-chair WILEF D.C. Pamela DiCarlantonio and Susan Charles co-chair WILEF Chicago, Shauna Clark, Odette McMurrey Mace, Yvette Ostolaza and Noelle Reed co-chair WILEF Southwest, Jennifer Moss, Elizabeth Smith, Laura C. Hodges Taylor and Margaret Cohen co-chair WILEF Boston and Lynnsey McCall co-chairs WILEF London. Our National Director of Administration is Mary Hicks. Merle S. Vaughn and Melique Jones co-Chair WILEF’s Diversity Committee. Libby McGarry chairs the Gold Standard Certification Committee and Shira Levin chairs the Young Lawyers Committee. In addition, we have five wonderful Executive Directors: Silvana Del Carpio covers WILEF DC and is Senior Executive Director. Allyn Perry covers WILEF East, Ann-Margaret Dudley covers WILEF Southwest, Nesli Orhon covers WILEF Boston and Suvi Sylvelin covers WILEF London.

--Elizabeth Anne “Betiayn” Tursi, Global Chair and Co-Founder, WILEF

We will "start the conversation" on the topics that are top of mind to all women in law firms today. We will lead by example as change agents. Our goal is to achieve results that will foster the adoption of new policies and practices to advance women in law firms.