Quarles partner’s efforts encourage diversity

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Nancy Peterson’s childhood in Medford, Wis., which currently has a population of 4,260, showed her how different people were. But not until a trip to Brazil when she was 13 did she realize the big disparities in life.

“There were people living in the hills in cardboard and corrugated huts,” Peterson said.

“In a space of seven blocks you had rich people with servants on the beach.”

Those images stayed with her. And as a partner with Quarles & Brady LLP, they’ve led her to seek diversity.

“I’ve always felt people have so much in common. I’ve always been motivated to bring people together and give everybody a fair shot,” said Peterson, who specialized in environmental law. “In the firm, I feel a sense of accomplishment when I’m able to bring people together and help people see allowing people to grow based on individual strengths brings us a fresh perspective, a better work product and happier people.”

Peterson led the firm’s Diversity Committee from its beginning in 2001 until October. In that role, she pushed for increasing the number of women in leadership positions, recruiting and retaining minorities and creating family friendly work policies.

Through mentoring programs, professional development training and flexible work schedules, the firm has seen a 50 percent drop in minority attorney attrition, and the number of female lawyers named as Best Lawyers in America has grown from five in 2001 to 26 in 2007. It also has seen Peterson emerge as the first female partner in the environmental law group.

But, Peterson isn’t taking all of the credit. She also cites contributions by Pat Ryan, who was chairman of the firm until he died in 2007 and initially co-chaired the Diversity Committee with her.

“It took many people to make that a reality,” she said.

Peterson joined Quarles & Brady in 1984 after graduating with her law degree from University of Wisconsin Law School in 1983 and has eventually became a partner.

When Peterson isn’t in the office, she’s enjoying the outdoors, playing sports or sharing her love of music with her sons, ages 10 and 13.

She previously served on the board of Early Music Now, which brings national and international musicians to the area to perform music composed before 1800. She also plays piano. She made her public musical debut at age 6 when she played “On Wisconsin” on TV. As a child, she also belonged to the Hammond Organ Society with her mother.

— Rosland B. Gammon