By Suzzanne Uhland

Currently a partner at O’Melveny & Myers, a prestigious international law firm headquartered in Los Angeles, Suzzanne Uhland earned her JD from Yale Law School. She chairs the firm’s restructuring practice and is renowned for her expertise in regulatory matters, especially regarding bankruptcy, insolvency-related transactions, and credit financing transactions. Recognized for her proficiency by both her peers and the popular press, Suzzanne Uhland was recently named to the advisory board of the Women in Law Empowerment Forum (WILEF).

WILEF’s objective is to educate women in law firms and corporate law departments and create networking opportunities for them. The forum’s first public program was held in late spring of 2007 in New York City’s University Club and was attended by more than 100 women. The forum initiated its West Coast programs in 2009, followed by Washington, DC, in 2010 and Chicago in 2011. Plans for 2014 include WILEF programs in Boston and Houston.

WILEF programs focus on a variety of topical concerns. A recent program, titled She’s Asking for It: When and How to Ask for the Business, focused on marketing tactics and strategies to help women identify key objectives, pitch them to colleagues or potential clients, and secure approval.

In addition to providing activities for women lawyers to enhance their job skills and professional networks, WILEF recognizes those firms that have incorporated significant numbers of women into all levels of leadership, such as the percentage of women among the firms’ equity partners, practice group leaders or department heads, and governance committees.