How WilmerHale’s Felicia Ellsworth Is Main the Subsequent Technology of Ladies Regulation Leaders
Boston-based partner Felicia Ellsworth is vice chair of the litigation / controversy division of WilmerHale. An accomplished first chairperson of litigation and appeal attorney, she has served clients in high-level disputes in both state and federal courts, including the US Supreme Court. She joined WilmerHale in 2006 as an Associate.
1. What main service or program (e.g. paid family leave or formal mentoring) did you owe to your advancement in your company? How has this program been particularly helpful to you as a lawyer?
The company’s family vacation program is very generous. And aside from the fact that I was fortunate enough to use the program myself, I appreciate that it is part of the company’s ethos that people, including fathers, take advantage of the generous parental leave arrangements, normalize d and ensure that those who do the Taking vacation (which tends to distort more women) is not thrown back.
2. To what extent has the support from your colleagues / company helped you to grow in your career?
I’ve had so many colleagues, both men and women, who have helped me capitalize on opportunities as a younger lawyer. You thought very carefully about what would help me grow as a lawyer and enable me to gain meaningful experience.
I was also fortunate enough to be part of WilmerHale’s partnership with the Middlesex County District Attorney’s Office in Massachusetts, which gives lawyers the opportunity to complete a six-month rotation in the attorney’s office. I did the rotation early in my career and gained very intensive trial experience, which in turn solidified my interest in trial practice.
3. What are some of the biggest barriers to your career advancement?
Despite the great strides that have been made, this is still a mostly male-dominated profession and I still look around at too many meetings in the (virtual) room where I am the only senior lawyer. It has certainly improved since I started practicing, but there is more to be done.
4. Was there a crucial moment in your career and what did you learn from it?
There was not a single moment: I would say there were a number of important turning points. One was when I was fortunate enough to be well placed for trainee lawyers who came after law school [with Chief Justice John Roberts at the US Supreme Court and with Judge Michael Boudin at the US Court of Appeals for the First Circuit]. These internships opened many doors for me.
Then came my decision to stay with WilmerHale and stay with WilmerHale instead of pursuing other opportunities. I always thought I would eventually become a prosecutor, but decided not to pursue this option when it became available because I was able to handle very complex and interesting cases here in the firm.
The lesson I learned from those moments is how important it is to make conscious choices about where to take your career. And that doesn’t necessarily mean that you have to make a change – for me, at crucial moments, I explored my options and decided to stay where I was.
5. What advice would you give to the next generation of female law firms?
I think we all need to be on constant vigilance to support this next generation of women leaders. The negative effects of COVID-19 on women in the workforce (in all sectors, but especially the law) are well known: We have seen women retire from the profession or not position themselves to move forward. We will see the effects of this development on women for many years to come, and so we have more work to do to get women into high law and management.
