MBT Article.qxp - Meckler Bulger Tilson Marick and Pearson LLP

“These women have made a commitment to our firm, and
it is only right that we demonstrate our commitment to them.”
named an equity partner just two weeks before she
left for maternity.
For Karen Dixon, an equity partner in the firm's
insurance coverage practice, the arrival of her new
baby has only confirmed what she already knew.
"At MBT, family comes first – plain and simple.”
Dixon offers that the firm’s culture of support and
respect for personal choices has definitely helped
her work full-time and still enjoy her family life.
Walking the Talk
Conventional wisdom long has held that active
litigation practices cannot accommodate the
unique arrangements necessary for the particular
demands facing women like these. But MBT
understands that successful practices can ill afford
the talent drain that occurs when accomplished
high achievers feel compelled to leave their firms
for family commitments.
MBT has found that valuing both professional
and personal obligations enables a practice to
grow, prosper and succeed. Garbutt explains,
“These women have made a commitment to our
firm, and it is only right that we demonstrate our
commitment to them.”
With this commitment in mind, the firm’s
Diversity Committee (comprised of both partners
and associates) is charged with regular assessments
of the firm’s culture, policies and practices. The
results have been impressive. Of the four practice
groups within the firm, women hold two of the
Chair positions and there has been a woman on
MBT’s management committee since the firm’s
inception in 1994.
Today, MBT is a signatory to both the Chicago
Bar Association’s and the American Bar
Association’s initiatives on women and diversity.
The firm also regularly partners with outside
professional groups on diversity initiatives, such as
the Chicago Bar Association’s Alliance for
Women’s “Call to Action.”
Looking forward, MBT continues to harness
and grow its awareness of women and diversity
issues through a host of
internal seminars and
diversity initiatives.
Garbutt concludes,
“Here at MBT, we
understand that a
diverse workforce,
given the opportunity
to balance its work/life
demands, greatly
enhances our ability to
deliver the breadth and
innovation that our
Stuart Garbutt clients have come to
expect.”
Meckler Bulger & Tilson, LLP is
one of Chicago’s leading litigation
firms – with a prominent record
of victories on behalf of some of
the country’s largest public and
private companies.
With 85 attorneys (30 of whom
are women), MBT specializes in
commercial litigation, insurance
coverage, labor & employment,
professional liability and attorney
fee disputes.
MBT is headquartered in Chicago,
with offices in London.