Joan McPhee Accepts Leadership Award at Women in White Collar Defense Association Gala

Litigation and enforcement partner Joan McPhee received The Laurie A. Miller Leadership Award for the Advancement of Women in White Collar Defense from the Women in White Collar Defense Association (WWCDA) at its first-ever awards dinner gala on December 3 in Washington, D.C. Ropes & Gray was a supporting sponsor of the event.

Ms. McPhee was recognized for her achievements during her career as a white collar defense attorney, and for her commitment to advancing women in the practice. Notably, Ms. McPhee’s leadership has been critical in the founding of the WWCDA and in helping WWCDA to grow throughout the world. WWCDA was created 20 years ago to address the large gender gap in white collar law and to provide networking, education, and business development opportunities for women. Since 1999, WWCDA has grown to more than 1,700 members in 39 chapters throughout North America, Europe, Latin America and Asia Pacific.

Law360 reported on the WWCDA gala in an article that quoted Ms. McPhee and other honorees. The article notes that Ms. McPhee founded and co-chaired Ropes & Gray’s government enforcement and white collar group approximately 20 years ago. Now, roughly half of the practice group's attorneys are women. "From the earliest days of our enforcement and white collar practice, there has been strong female leadership. And I think that has created an environment that feels welcoming to younger female lawyers," Ms. McPhee told Law360.