Flora Pettit

Standing on the shoulders of strong founders — both men and women — who have always valued women’s perspectives, the business and litigation firm of Flora Pettit, led by President Jennifer E. Shirkey, makes it a priority to offer attorneys who identify as female a supportive environment for their professional achievement and personal fulfillment.

Women consistently serve in the firm’s top levels of firm management, exerting significant influence over its current operations and future planning, including Cathleen P. Welsh, business practice group chair and marketing chair; Nancy R. Schlichting, litigation practice group chair; and Robin W. Ruleman, chief financial officer.

Flora Pettit takes the long view of its attorney and staff members’ careers, so has policies that are flexible enough to accommodate a range of work schedules, which may change over time based on their season of life. The challenges the firm has faced are the same as any law firm, and tend to be systemic to broader society and individual personalities, such as identifying the right networking fits for each of our attorneys and helping them synthesize personal and professional goals and responsibilities, especially as the firm’s attorneys — both men and women — often have life partners with equally demanding work positions or are managing them solo.

In the broader community, the firm seeks out and appreciates the opportunity to work with fellow women-led businesses and institutional clients, as well as many individual women clients.

In addition, the firm encourages all its attorneys to take leadership roles in community and networking organizations that they’re passionate about, which often involves those oriented towards women.

This past June, Flora Pettit sponsored the “Bridging the Generational Gap for Women in the Law” event, presented by the Virginia State Bar’s Young Lawyers Conference in Harrisonburg.  Firm attorneys are also engaged in the Charlottesville Area Bar Association’s Women Lawyers Section and have helped facilitate several of its events.