Downey Brand Recognized as Sacramento Business Journal’s Best Places to Work
October 14, 2019
Downey Brand is thrilled to announce that it placed second in the Sacramento Business Journal’s Best Places to Work “large employer” category, which represents companies with 150-499 employees. This is the firm’s second year being honored as a Best Places to Work; it placed first last year in the same “large employer” category.
Best Places to Work honors companies with operations in El Dorado, Placer, Sacramento, and Yolo counties that foster a great workplace. Employees of nominated companies were asked to answer 30 questions that measure employee engagement in six categories, including teamwork, trust, compensation, and benefits. A third-party company evaluated the responses and identified first-, second-, and third-place winners in each size category.
Scott Shapiro, Downey Brand’s managing partner for the past six years and part of the Firm for 25 of its 93 years, said, “All of the leaders at Downey Brand – from our executive committee to department chairs to members of our Associate Liaison Committee – focus on creating a vibrant, inclusive, team-based workplace. We hire the best people out there and then we all align on a single focus: working relentlessly to achieve the results that matter most to our clients. We are thrilled to again receive this award.”
A common thread in this year’s nominees according to Sam Boykin, Managing Editor of the Sacramento Business Journal, was the importance of creating a culture that is “inclusive, supportive, and driven” and where people “feel valued and know that they’re making a difference.”
The following profile was printed in Sacramento Business Journal’s Best Places to Work:
Downey Brand LLP: A law firm that serves clients in business, natural resources, and litigation matters throughout California, Northern Nevada and beyond.
Top local executive: Scott Shapiro, managing partner
Number of local employees: 152
Headquarters: Sacramento
Why would someone want to work at your company: “Our team members value being treated with respect and courtesy. They feel like they are part of something greater than just the portion of the project that they work on. They genuinely like and appreciate the people they work with – it’s a welcoming family.”
How do you know if someone is the right fit for your company: “We look for people who are smart, talented, dedicated, and who work with our clients in mind; people who take ownership of their work and follow through; people who like what they do; people who take their work seriously, but don’t take themselves too seriously.”
What is the biggest asset or perk you offer employees: “A team that thinks creatively and collaborates to find lots of little ways to recognize and reward employees’ contributions. Our biggest asset remains our employees. Prospective hires have an opportunity to work with talented people, which drives our employee satisfaction.”
What is your company’s toughest challenge and how do you overcome it: “Being nimble enough to help our employees achieve the work-life blend that works best for them while continuing to put clients first and meet business needs. We make these accommodations through the use of technology, flexible work schedules, and a team coverage approach.”
What’s the biggest lesson you’ve learned about creating a positive work environment: “We’ve learned that small changes can make a big difference; that actively soliciting input from our employees, and implementing their suggestions, quickly and measurably boots morale and job satisfaction.”