O’Melveny and AbilTo Launch Advisory Program for Lawyers Returning from Parental Leave

April 14, 2011

 

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

 

Contact:

Julie Fei                                                                     Lilibeth Gecale

O’Melveny & Myers LLP                                             AbilTo LLC

213.430.7792 (office)                                               212.203.0627 (office)

213.440.7792 (cell)                                                   347.989.2024 (cell)

jfei@omm.com                                                           lilibeth.gecale@abilto.com

 

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA ─ APRIL 14, 2011 ─ O’Melveny & Myers LLP, in conjunction with AbilTo, is pleased to announce an innovative initiative aimed at retaining, developing, and supporting new parents at the firm – Momentum One. AbilTo developed this unique program to help new parents recognize and successfully manage the challenges of transitioning from parental leave back to work. Momentum One, which launches April 15, is available to all associates, counsel, and partners in O’Melveny’s 14 offices around the world.

Momentum One is an eight-week offering designed to assist new parents as they develop the skills to manage the practical realities inherent in transition. The confidential advisory program pairs a returning lawyer with an AbilTo transition specialist, starting four weeks prior to the end of family leave and continuing four weeks after work return. All meetings occur via video chat -- utilizing AbilTo’s embedded videoconferencing technology -- or telephone, allowing participants to pick the schedule and location that is most comfortable and convenient.

 

Alicia Hancock, a counsel in O’Melveny’s Century City office and a member of the Business Trial and Litigation Practice, used the trial program of Momentum One after the birth of her daughter last year.

 

“As a first time parent I was having a lot of conflicting emotions about returning to work at the end of my leave,” Hancock said. “The program helped me work through those concerns. It was good to talk through action plans with someone who had already gone through this transition and could give suggestions about ways to feel more prepared. It made me feel better about my daughter’s situation at home and my situation at work.”

 

The program is highly individualized to address specific challenges of each participant. AbilTo professionals will work with new parents to identify examples of successful work/life balance arrangements and take full advantage of benefits O’Melveny already has in place, including back-up childcare and nursing rooms.

 

“O’Melveny is proud to continue its tradition of providing progressive, practical benefits that acknowledge and support the unique challenges faced by our professionals throughout the course of their careers,” said Rochelle Karr, O’Melveny’s Director of Attorney Professional Development & Alumni Relations.

 

“AbilTo created Momentum One to ensure that new parents receive expert, timely resources to successfully manage the return process and discover sustainable work-life effectiveness,” said Margaret Klein, Momentum One’s Program Director at AbilTo. “We look forward to helping O’Melveny implement additional programs in support of other life transitions experienced by its professionals throughout their careers.”

 

About O’Melveny & Myers LLP
With approximately 900 lawyers in 14 offices worldwide, O’Melveny & Myers LLP helps industry leaders across a broad array of sectors manage the complex challenges of succeeding in the global economy. We are a values-driven law firm, guided by the principles of excellence, leadership, and citizenship. Our commitment to these values is reflected in our dedication to improving access to justice through pro bono work and championing initiatives that increase the diversity of the legal profession. For more information, please visit www.omm.com.

 

About AbilTo LLC

AbilTo offers set-price, fixed duration programs to employers and managed care companies that enable employees and members to proactively manage addressable life transition issues, resulting in measurable health outcomes and reduced expenditures. The company’s programs are based on, well-accepted protocols and delivered ‘face-to-face’ to participants using web-based videoconference. Current offerings include Momentum and Health Forum. For more information, please visit www.abilto.com.