Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck is pleased to announce that Carrie Johnson, a shareholder in its Denver office, has been named co-chair of the firm’s Women's Leadership Initiative (WLI). Johnson will serve as co-chair alongside Ali Metzl, shareholder and chair of diversity, inclusion and equity.
As a member of the firm’s Litigation Department, Johnson focuses on litigation related to complex contract, corporate governance, fiduciary duty, fraud and securities issues. In addition to her complex commercial litigation work, she has a robust appellate practice, often appearing before state and federal appellate courts. She also most recently served as co-chair of the firm’s Summer Associate Committee and currently serves as the hiring and review partner for the Litigation Department.
The WLI was co-founded in 2014 by Metzl and Nicole Ament, chair of Brownstein’s Real Estate Department, to foster greater connectivity among the women of the firm, provide additional professional development tools and training for women, and advocate for greater opportunities for women in partnership and leadership positions.
“Thank you to Nicole for her significant role in shaping the WLI, serving as its co-chair with Ali and helping empower the women of Brownstein,” said Rich Benenson, the firm’s managing partner. “I’m excited that Carrie has taken on this new role within the WLI and look forward to her collaboration with Ali as they work to continually enhance the firm’s programs and initiatives on behalf of our women. I know Brownstein will benefit from their partnership and leadership.”
“I am so proud that WLI has not only institutionalized the great force that is the women of Brownstein, but has been instrumental in empowering every woman to be successful at the firm, all while providing necessary emotional and mental support,” said Ament. “I am in awe of our amazing women, excited to see what the future holds for us and proud to pass my baton to Carrie.”
Through the WLI’s efforts, Brownstein has implemented a variety of career-advancement initiatives and has recently been recognized for its gender diversity efforts, receiving the 2021 Innovation Award from the Colorado Women’s Chamber of Commerce, achieving Mansfield Rule Certification from the Diversity Lab for the third consecutive year, ranking second on Law 360’s 2020 Ceiling Smashers list for law firms (251-600 attorneys) with the highest representation of women in their equity partnerships, ranking sixth on The American Lawyer’s 2020 list of firms with the highest percentage of female equity partners and being named as one of Working Mother’s “Best Law Firms for Women” for the second consecutive year.
“The WLI has made such great strides in its efforts to support and advance our female attorneys and policy professionals, and I’m honored to take on this role to continue this important work,” added Johnson.