July 10, 2018 – Reed Smith LLP and the Association of National Advertisers (ANA) today announced that the firm has become the first law firm member of the #SeeHer movement.
#SeeHer is led by the ANA, the largest marketing and advertising trade association in the U.S. whose members comprise nearly 1,000 companies with 15,000 brands that collectively spend or support more than $400 billion in marketing and advertising annually.
Launched in 2016, #SeeHer’s goal is to increase accurate portrayals of women and girls in U.S. advertising and media by 20 percent by 2020, the 100th anniversary of women in the U.S. winning the right to vote. At the half way point, the group recently announced that they are more than half way to their goal.
“We are pleased to be the first law firm to partner with the ANA’s #SeeHer movement,” said Sandy Thomas, Reed Smith’s global managing partner. “This initiative hits home for us in two important ways. First, our entertainment and media industry group is one of the five key industry sectors we focus on at the firm and, secondly, it aligns with our firm’s values and commitment to the advancement of women in all areas of our firm and the legal industry. #SeeHer is poised to make a big difference in the next two years, and Reed Smith welcomes the opportunity to be a part of this important change.”
Reed Smith’s entertainment and media industry group works directly with a broad array of clients in various industries who are looking for innovative ways to improve the portrayal of women in their own advertising and promotion and are committed to advancing women within their respective industries.
Representatives of the movement will be involved in Reed Smith’s Diversity Summit in Washington, D.C., in September. The law firm will collaborate further with and support #SeeHer, including engaging Reed Smith’s female attorneys in an innovative online and social media “Spotlight Series” this fall that highlights women’s leadership roles and successes in the firm.
“The ANA has relied on Reed Smith’s outstanding legal advice and counsel for decades,” said Bob Liodice, chief executive officer of the ANA. “There is no question this movement will benefit from the firm’s commitment to and experience in advancing women to roles of leadership and visibility across its worldwide offices.”
“As a long-standing partner of the ANA with vast experience in entertainment law, we are delighted that they have joined the #SeeHer initiative,” added ANA President & Chief Operating Officer Christine Manna.
#SeeHer’s website (www.seeher.com) and social presence is generating massive attention. In the past six months, the group sponsored a one-night takeover of the U.S. Olympics (NBC); a month-long PSA campaign during Women’s History Month (CBS); honored Gal Gadot with a #SeeHer award at 2018 Critics Choice (CW); and has a weekly #SeeHer Spotlight feature on Celebrity Page, a syndicated entertainment show.
About Reed Smith
Reed Smith is a global law firm dedicated to providing quality business solutions, not just legal answers. Our belief is that by doing things differently, with a greater focus on innovation, and by delivering smarter and more creative and efficient legal services, we will not only enrich our clients’ experiences with us but also support them in achieving their own business goals.
With long-standing relationships, an international outlook, and collaborative structure, Reed Smith is a strategic partner in the resolution of complex disputes, transactions, and regulatory matters. For further information, please visit reedsmith.com.
About SeeHer
Despite the strides made to accurately portray women and girls in media, an unconscious bias persists against women and girls in advertising, media, and programming. The Association of National Advertisers’ (ANA) Alliance for Family Entertainment (AFE) launched the SeeHer initiative in June 2016 in a partnership with The Female Quotient (TFQ) at the United State of Women. SeeHer’s mission is to increase the accurate portrayals of women and girls in media 20 percent by 2020, the 100th anniversary of women winning the right to vote in the U.S. For more information, visit www.SeeHer.com, and follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.
About the Association of National Advertisers (ANA)
The ANA (Association of National Advertisers) makes a difference for individuals, brands, and the industry by driving growth, advancing the interests of marketers, and promoting and protecting the well-being of the marketing community. Founded in 1910, the ANA provides leadership that advances marketing excellence and shapes the future of the industry. The ANA’s membership includes more than 1,000 companies with 15,000 brands that collectively spend or support more than $400 billion in marketing and advertising annually. The membership is comprised of more than 750 client-side marketers and 300 associate members, which includes leading agencies, law firms, suppliers, consultants, and vendors. Further enriching the ecosystem is the work of the nonprofit ANA Advertising Educational Foundation (AEF), which has the mission of enhancing the understanding of advertising and marketing within the academic and marketing communities. For more information, visit www.ana.net, follow us on Twitter, Instagram, or join us on Facebook.
For more information, contact Jamie Moss, newsPRos, 201-493-1027, jamie@newspros.com
