Women’s History Month Firm Spotlight: Sara K. Hunkler
March 16, 2022
The month of March celebrates the contributions women have made throughout history. At Ruggeri Parks Weinberg LLP, we also celebrate the contributions made by our talented female attorneys. Today, we feature Sara K. Hunkler, who recently was elevated to partnership at Ruggeri Parks Weinberg.
You came from a New York City firm and had options. Why did you choose this group?
I started my legal career at a high-powered New York City litigation boutique where I cut my teeth working on large and complex cases for corporate clients. I knew when I started job hunting in DC as a fourth-year associate that I wanted to stay in high-end commercial litigation. It was also important to me to join a group where I would have a fair shot at making partner. While no law firm will tell you “we don’t promote women,” statistics and observation show that women around my age – whether they have children or not – often get less prestigious work or overlooked for promotion. With that in mind, I concentrated my search on firms that had made lists of best law firms for women or had high numbers of women partners. I chose to accept an offer with this group primarily because its reputation and Chambers ranking made me confident that I would have the opportunity to continue working on the kind of high-quality, complex litigation matters I most enjoy, but I felt confident in my decision because the group has a demonstrated record of promoting women. Everyone I met while interviewing also had great things to say about one another, which sealed the deal.
What challenges have you confronted as a female attorney?
Couples in my generation are more likely than those in previous generations to pursue equally high-powered careers and share child and household responsibilities 50/50. The legal industry, however, has been slow to adapt to and support generational shifts in family roles. As just one example, many law firms offer family leave policies that distinguish between maternity and paternity leave, or primary and nonprimary caregivers, which contributes to the perception that caregiving and child bonding are female responsibilities. In my view, gendered or quasi-gendered workplace policies often reflect underlying attitudes that allow gender disparities to flourish and contribute to underrepresentation of women across the industry. Something I appreciate about this group is that I have had a voice since the time I walked in the door as an associate, and the partners are open and receptive to different perspectives.
As a woman and equity partner at Ruggeri Parks Weinberg LLP, what makes the firm unique or special?
The partners at Ruggeri Parks Weinberg LLP are hard-working, focused individuals with high standards and a commitment to quality, but they are also team players. When I put in the work and showed that I was up the task, the partners didn’t hesitate to give me countless opportunities to grow my legal skill set, reputation, and career. One of my favorite parts of working with this group is that I feel confident in what I do because I know that these highly competent people have my back and want me to succeed. One of my other favorite things about working with this group is our clients. I spent the early part of my career handling commercial litigation matters for various domestic and foreign corporations and partnerships, and my current insurer clients seem to have more women in leadership positions. It is refreshing to work with more women, and I am proud to represent clients that promote women and reward talent.
Do you have any advice to pass on to other women as they begin to navigate the legal profession?
While I am still early in what I hope will be a long and fulfilling career, my advice to other women navigating this profession is (1) work to distinguish yourself; (2) put yourself in the best position for that work to be rewarded; and (3) do what you are able to move the profession toward inclusion and open doors for others.