Stokes Lawrence Ranked Among Largest Women-Owned Businesses

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Stokes Lawrence has been ranked among the region’s largest women-owned businesses (subscription required) by the Puget Sound Business Journal.

The firm became majority women-owned on January 1, 2020 with women comprising 56% of its shareholders. It is one of two law firms on the list and the largest women-owned firm in the region.

“We are proud of our firm’s diversity, particularly our gender parity,” noted Managing Shareholder Kelly Twiss Noonan. “Diversity in the legal profession is important to many firms, including Stokes Lawrence. We have always had a high percentage of women lawyers and owners, which is historically unusual for law firms.”

Statistics show that women lawyers frequently encounter barriers to advancement in their careers at law firms. Women have made up 50% of law school classes since the mid-1990s. However, they comprise 36% of lawyers in the legal profession, and just 19% of equity partners in law firms.

This is the second time Stokes Lawrence has been a women-owned firm. It also held that distinction in the early 2000s.

“Since the firm’s beginning, the focus has been on hiring outstanding lawyers based on their ability. As we have grown, the high number of women lawyers at our firm has grown organically,” Kelly added.