Law firm leaders and lawyers at the top levels of large firms are still primarily men. But that is changing, just like it’s changing on corporate boards, thanks in part to efforts like the new law in California that mandates the inclusion of women on boards.
What challenges have you experienced as you advanced in your career while balancing motherhood?
One of the hardest challenges was missing my daughter’s first ballet performance because I was out of town taking depositions in a significant antitrust case. Those kinds of missed moments are hard, but I’ve been able to reconcile it as my daughter has matured and grown to appreciate that she has a working mom with a challenging career. She’s working on college applications now, and I was so moved when I read an essay she wrote about how much she has grown to value my career, including hearing me rehearse oral arguments and seeing me having spirited discussions about the law with my husband, who also is a litigator. It’s invigorating and inspiring to have been an example of strength and power for her.
Why is it important that companies and law firms increase the number of women leaders in their organizations?
Law firm leaders and lawyers at the top levels of large firms are still primarily men. But that is changing, just like it’s changing on corporate boards, thanks in part to efforts like the new law in California that mandates the inclusion of women on boards. And it’s important because companies are more profitable and corporate boards are more functional when women are in leadership positions alongside men.
In my experience as an antitrust attorney, I am frequently the only woman during joint defense meetings or at court hearings. I’ve developed good relationships with women antitrust lawyers at other firms, and when we’re in these meetings together, we support each other, which makes each of us more forceful.
How is Pillsbury creating opportunities for women to succeed?
It’s significant that firm leadership has appointed women to be Office Managing Partners in a number of Pillsbury offices. In addition to myself in San Francisco, women lead our Los Angeles, Silicon Valley, Sacramento, London, Miami and Houston offices. These types of leadership roles do not go unnoticed by clients, and they create opportunities to have a real impact on the issue of women’s advancement. For instance, I’ve been able to lead our local office in supporting events like a luncheon for Bay Area women general counsel and How Women Lead that help attendees strengthen their networks with other influential women.
Describe a time when work and parenthood collided. How did you manage it?
When my daughter was younger, before she went into high school and became fiercely independent, she went through a time where she really needed me. She was around 11 years old and was going to a summer day camp, but she really missed me and wanted to leave camp to be with me. So that week, she came to work with me every day. It felt good that I didn’t even think that it could have been awkward. Fortunately, my colleagues were understanding and welcoming to her. I was so pleased I could be there for her when she really needed me even though my case load required me to be in the office.
Roxane Polidora is a Litigation partner in Pillsbury's San Francisco office. She serves as leader of the firm's Antitrust & Competition practice and as Office Managing Partner in San Francisco. She has one child.