ATLANTA (September 12, 2017) – Smith, Gambrell & Russell, LLP (SGR) is pleased to announce a panel discussion and screening of Balancing the Scales, a documentary on American women lawyers, on Tuesday, September 19, 2017 beginning with a reception at 5:30 p.m. The panel discussion will follow and the evening will conclude with a screening of the film. SGR Partner and former Chief Justice of the Georgia Supreme Court, Leah Ward Sears, is featured in the documentary and will be a part of the panel which also includes the film’s director and producer Sharon Rowen, Judge Wendy L. Shoob of the Superior Court of Fulton County and SGR Litigation Partner Dana Richens as moderator.
Balancing the Scales, an insightful documentary by attorney/filmmaker Sharon Rowen, explores the history of women in law, what has changed in the last 50 years, and what is happening with young women lawyers today. Topics range from discrimination to work life balance, what it takes to become a partner in today’s firms, and what we need to change for women to break the glass ceiling and really have a seat at the table where society wide decisions are made. Ms. Rowen, a personal injury and probate lawyer in Atlanta, has been conducting interviews for the film for 20 years.
Along with Justice Sears, the film features pioneers like Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, civil rights advocate Gloria Allred and other prominent attorneys and judges to younger women starting their career.
Ms. Sears is a Partner in SGR’s Litigation Practice. Among her many roles, she is an appellate lawyer, oral advocate and strategist, in addition to often serving as a neutral in arbitration proceedings and mediations. Ms. Sears was the first woman and youngest person ever to sit on Georgia’s Supreme Court when she was appointed in 1992. She was also the first woman to hold a position on the Superior Court of Fulton County, Georgia.
For additional information on the panel discussion and film screening event, please visit https://www.sgrlaw.com/events.
About Smith, Gambrell & Russell, LLP
SGR is a full service, international law firm that advises regional, national and global businesses on a wide range of legal matters. The firm’s more than 200 attorneys provide legal counsel in more than 45 specialized practice areas, including corporate transactions, litigation, intellectual property, aviation, banking, real estate, construction and employment law. Founded in 1893, SGR has offices in Atlanta, Austin, Jacksonville, London, Munich, New York, Southampton, and Washington, D.C.