Roberta D. Liebenberg

Bobbi’s recent publications include:

• “Mothers in Law Firms: Where Do We Go From Here? An Empirical Study of Seattle Area Lawyers” Stephanie Scharf and Roberta Liebenberg, MAMA Seattle, December 2023
• “Legal Careers of Parents and Child Caregivers: Results and Best Practices from a National Study of the Legal Profession,” Stephanie Scharf, Roberta Liebenberg, and Paulette Brown. American Bar Association,  October 25, 2023.
• Co-Author, “2022 Practice Forward Report – Where Does The Legal Profession Go From Here?” – September 2022.
• “The Hazards Of Female Lawyers Being ‘Office Moms’,” Roberta D. Liebenberg and U.S. Circuit Judge Margaret McKeown, Law360, November 12, 2021.
• “Hybrid Work – A Path for Female Lawyers,” Roberta D. Liebenberg, Best Lawyers, November 4, 2021.
• “Hybrid Work Policies – Key to the Recruitment, Retention of Women and Lawyers of Color,” Roberta D. Liebenberg and Stephanie A. Scharf, Law.com, October 25, 2021.
• “Hybrid Work Models Are Key To Gender Parity in Law Firms,” Roberta D. Liebenberg and Stephanie A. Scharf, Law360, July 2021.
• “Law Firm Talent Must Reflect Shifting US Demographics,” Stephanie Scharf and Roberta Liebenberg, Law360, June 16, 2021.
• “Practicing Law in the Pandemic and Moving Forward,” Stephanie Scharf and Roberta Liebenberg, American Bar Association, April 2021.
• “Working Mothers Need a ‘New Deal’ to Survive the ‘New Normal,” Roberta Liebenberg and Stephanie Scharf, Law.com, April 26, 2021.
• “5 Ways Firms Can Avoid Female Attorney Exodus During the Pandemic,” Roberta Liebenberg and Stephanie Scharf, Law360, October 18, 2020.
• “Law Firms Must Note Pandemic’s Outsize Impact On Women,” Roberta D. Liebenberg and Stephanie A. Scharf, Law360, July 2020.
• “Women Litigators: The Secret Sauce for Success…Grit, Growth, Mindset and Resilience,” Trial Reporter, Maryland Association for Justice, Summer 2020.
• “The Trials and Tribulations of Women Litigators,” Litigation Journal, ABA Litigation Section, Spring 2020
• “A National Survey on the New Normal of Working Remotely: Best Practices for Legal Employers During the Covid-19 Pandemic,” Co-Author, March 2020.
• “Walking Out the Door – The Facts, Figures and Future of Experienced Women Lawyers in Private Practice,” Co-authored with Stephanie Scharf, Published jointly by the American Bar Association and American Lawyer Media Intelligence, November 2019.
• “Too Many Senior Women Are Leaving the Profession,” ABA Law Practice Today, November 2018.
• “Moving the Needle on Corporate Boards: More Women Lawyers Needed,” Forum Magazine, May 2017.
• “Wanted:  More Women on Corporate Boards: Legal Experience Desired,” Best Lawyers in America, February 21, 2017.
• “Women Lawyers – The Effect of Implicit Biases,” The Young Lawyers Magazine, American Bar Association, Winter 2017.
• “First Chairs at Trial: More Women Need Seats at the Table,” Stephanie Scharf and Roberta D. Liebenberg, American Bar Association, July 2015.
• “The Relevant Lawyer: Reimagining the Future of The Legal Profession” (2015) (Chapter Author, “Women Lawyers: Big Firm Attrition – Small Firm Gains”).
• “Views on Women in the Fortune 500: Why Companies Need Board Diversity,” Bloomberg BNA Corporate Law & Accountability Report, October 24, 2014.
• “Eighth Annual NAWL National Survey on the Retention and Promotion of Women in Law Firms,” Co-authored with Stephanie Scharf, February 2014.
• “Board Composition – The Work of DirectWomen Is More Important Than Ever,” Directors & Boards, Third Quarter 2013.
• “The Retention and Advancement of Women at Law Firms – Strategies for Success,” US News and World Report, November 2013.
• “Has Women Lawyers’ Progress Stalled?” Legal Intelligencer, May 28, 2013
• “Power of the Purse: How General Counsel Can Impact Pay Equity for Women Lawyers,” Lauren Rikleen, Roberta Liebenberg and Stephanie Scharf, American Bar Association, 2012.
• “Put Equal Pay for Equal Work at the Top of the Agenda,” Philadelphia Daily News, October 20, 2010.
• “Breaking Through the Glass Ceiling – Attaining Equality for Women Lawyers,” US News and World Report, October 2010.
• “Time to Pass the Paycheck Fairness Act,” National Law Journal, April 19, 2010.

Bobbi’s recent speeches and seminars include:

• Opening presentation with Stephanie A. Scharf at Temple Law School exhibit “Lessons of Resilience and Courage from German Jewish Women Lawyers.” March 14, 2024
• “Women’s Progress in the Legal Profession,” The Portia Project Podcast (Oct. 1, 2023)
• “Is There a Penalty? Parenthood and Child Caregiving and its Impact on Gender Equality in the Legal Profession,” ABA Annual Meeting, August 5, 2023
• Acceptance Speech, Judge Learned Hand Award, American Jewish Committee – Philadelphia/Southern New Jersey, Feb. 22, 2023
• “How to Achieve DEI in Law Firms Now,” Furia Rubel Podcast (November 2022)
• Acceptance Speech, Justice Sonia Sotomayor Diversity Award, Philadelphia Bar Association, June 21, 2022
• Vision 2020, Seventh National Congress, Philadelphia, PA. June 15-16, 2021.
• Chancellor’s Forum, Philadelphia Bar Association, “COVID-19’s Impact on the Legal Profession,” June 14, 2021.
• Co-Chair, ABA World Forum for Women in the Law: “Women, Power and Disrupting the Status Quo,” Jan. 27-29, 2021.
• “Progressing Towards Partnership,” International Association of Young Lawyers, March 31, 2021.
• Women Owned Law Virtual Symposium 2021 “Pivoting Forward Together, March 18, 2021.
• Women Legal 2021 Conference “The Profound Impact of Covid-19 on Women in the Legal Profession,” March 11, 2021.
• USC Women’s Conference, “The Impact of Covid-19 on Women and Work-Life Balance,” March 5, 2021.
• “Women in the Law: Productive Teams in a Time of Disruption,” American Health Law Association Podcast, March 3, 2021.
• “Women in the Law: Practice in the Pandemic and Beyond,” American Health Law Association Podcast, March 1, 2021.
• “Antitrust and Diversity in the Plaintiffs’ Bar,” American Antitrust Institute Podcast, Nov. 3, 2020.
• 2020 Corporate Counsel Symposium, Federation of Defense & Corporate Counsel, Oct. 6, 2020.
• “How to Maintain Inclusivity For Law Firms In a Remote Environment,” Lawline Podcast, July 17, 2020.
• “Diversity and Inclusion in the Time of Coronavirus,” Reed Smith webinar, May 28, 2020.
• “Racism in America – A Courageous Conversation on Race and Privilege,” Women Lawyers Association of Los Angeles, August 22, 2020.
• “Attrition of Senior Women Attorneys,” National Conference of Women’s Bar Associations, 2020 Summit, July 31, 2020.
• “Why Women Leave: The Law Firm Gender Gap and How to Close It,” Burford Capital Webinar, March 23, 2020.
• “Achieving Long-Term Careers for Women in Law,” Ark 2020 Women Legal Summit, San Diego, CA, February 25, 2020.
• Max M. Shapiro Lecture, Boston University School of Law, Boston, MA, February 13, 2020.
• “Advancement and Retention of Women in the Legal Profession,” Allegheny County Bar Association Women in the Law Division, Aug. 27, 2019, Pittsburgh, P
• “Beyond the Numbers: Sidebar on the 2019 ABA Profile of the Legal Profession,” ABA Annual Meeting, August 10, 2019, San Francisco
• “Where Have All the Senior Women Gone?”, Pennsylvania Bar Association Annual Meeting, Lancaster, PA, May 15, 2019
• 2019 Women’s Power Summit on Law & Leadership, “Achieving Long-Term Careers for Women in Law,” Austin, Texas, April 10, 2019
• JD Annual Conference on Women in the Law, University of Pennsylvania Law School, Philadelphia, PA, March 15, 2019
• “Leaders in the Courtroom: From the Trial Courts to the United States Supreme Court,” Philadelphia Association of Defense Counsel, Philadelphia, PA, March 7, 2019
• “Long-Term Careers for Women in Law: What’s Pushing Women Out and What Can We Do To Keep Them In The Profession,” ABA Annual Meeting, Chicago, IL., Aug. 3, 2018
• “Women in Law: On the Front Lines of Change,” Philadelphia, PA, June 14, 2018,
• “Driving Diversity in the Legal Profession,” Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Seattle, WA, May 9, 2018,
• ABA National Summits on Achieving Long-Term Careers for Women in Law, Harvard Law School, Cambridge, MA, November 8, 2017 and Northwestern Law School, Chicago, IL, June 28, 2018
• Northeastern University School of Law’s “Women in the Law Conference,” “Unlocking the Mysteries of the ‘New Girl’ Network,” Boston, MA, May 19, 2017
• Gender Pay Equity, PBI Annual Employment Law Institute, Philadelphia, PA, April 27, 2017
• “Grit and Growth Mindset:  Two Traits of Successful Women Lawyers,” The Maryland Association for Justice, Baltimore, MD, March 17, 2017
• “The Wage Gap, Women & Negotiation,” Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA, May 25, 2016
• Keynote Address, Third Annual Leadership Summit, Miami Dade Women’s Bar Association, Miami, FL, May 19, 2016
• Symposium, “Women Lawyers in the Courtroom,” U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, Chicago, IL, April 21, 2016
• “First Chair: How to Get the Prime Seat at Counsel Table,” Philadelphia Bar Association, Philadelphia, PA, March 29, 2016
• “Women as Lead Counsel at Trial: What You Can Do to Take the Lead,” ABA Annual Meeting, Chicago, IL, August 1, 2015
• Ark Group, “Women Legal 2015 Conference,” “Breaking into the Boardroom: It’s Time,” New York, NY, May 19, 2015
• Northeastern University School of Law’s “Women in the Law Conference,” “Bridging the Gender Pay Gap in Law,” Boston, MA, May 15, 2015
• Bar Ass’n. “Grit, Resilience and Taking Charge: Building Blocks for Success,” Philadelphia, PA, May 7, 2015
• 2015 Women’s Power Summit on Law & Leadership, “Increasing Diversity in Court Appointments,” Austin, TX, April 16, 2015
• “Opportunities for Women in Education and Law,” Russell Senate Office Building, Washington, DC, February 23, 2015

• “Lifetime Achievement Award,” The American Lawyer, November 15, 2023
• “Mary Ann Jorgenson Board Empowerment Award,” DirectWomen, October 6, 2023
• “Top 10 Influential Antitrust Plaintiffs’ Lawyers Shaping U.S. Law: Nation’s Legal Titans,” Business Today (July 9, 2023)
• “Judge Learned Hand Award,” American Jewish Committee – Philadelphia/Southern New Jersey, February 22, 2023
• “Hall of Fame-inism,” ABA Antitrust Law Section’s Women.Connected Committee, November 16, 2022
• “Justice Sonia Sotomayor Diversity Award,” Philadelphia Bar Association, June 21, 2022
• American Antitrust Institute “Private Enforcement Hall of Fame,” November 12, 2019
• “Best of the Bar,” Philadelphia Business Journal, October 25, 2019
• “Elite Women of the Plaintiffs’ Bar,” National Law Journal, July 18, 2019
• “Lifetime Achievement Award,” The Philadelphia Inquirer “Influencers of Law” Awards, March 26, 2019
• “Lifetime Achievement Award,” Corporate Counsel and Inside Counsel, October 3, 2018
• “Hortense Ward Courageous Leader Award,” Center for Women in Law, University of Texas School of Law, April 13, 2018
• “Distinguished Leaders Award,” The Legal Intelligencer, April 26, 2017
• “Martha Fay Africa Golden Hammer Award,” American Bar Association Law Practice Division, February 3, 2017
• Philadelphia Bar Association Board of Governors, “Resolution Honoring Roberta Liebenberg on Receiving the ABA Margaret Brent Women Lawyers of Achievement Award,” December 15, 2016
• “Margaret Brent Women Lawyers of Achievement Award,” ABA Commission on Women in the Profession, August 7, 2016
• “Lifetime Achievement Award,” The Legal Intelligencer, May 13, 2015
• “75 Most Outstanding Women Lawyers,” National Law Journal, May 4, 2015
• “Outstanding Achievement Award,” Chambers Women in Law Awards, April 2014
• “Sharing Her Passion Award,” Ms. JD, February 2014
• “Antitrust Lawyer of the Year Philadelphia,” Best Lawyers in America, 2013, 2018 and 2020
• “Outstanding Contributions to Gender Diversity and Equality,” Chambers Women in Law Awards, January 2013
• Florence K. Murray Award, National Association of Women Judges, November 2012
• Sandra Day O’Connor Award, Philadelphia Bar Association, 2008
• “Top Ten Super Lawyers in Pennsylvania,” Philadelphia Magazine, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2017, 2018
• “50 Most Influential Women Lawyers in America,” National Law Journal, May 2007
• Distinguished Daughter of Pennsylvania, 2006
• Recipient, Lynette Norton Award, Pennsylvania Bar Association’s Commission on Women in the Profession, 2003
• “Women of Distinction,” The Legal Intelligencer, April 26, 2010
• “Women of Distinction,” Philadelphia Business Journal, December, 2003
• “Top 50 Female Super Lawyers,” Philadelphia Magazine, 2004-Present
• Best Lawyers in America, Antitrust, 2006-Present
• Chambers USA, Leading Lawyers, Antitrust, 2004-Present
• Lawdragon Hall of Fame, inducted 2021
• Outstanding Service Award, ABA Commission on Women in the Profession, August 2000
• Community Legal Services, “Equal Justice Award,” 2005

• American Bar Association.  Multiple leadership roles including Co-Chair, ABA Presidential Initiative on Achieving Long-Term Careers for Women in Law (2017-present); Co-Chair, Commission on Governance (2013- 2016); Chair, Commission on Women in the Profession (2008-2011, 2013-2014); Chair, ABA Gender Equity Task Force (2012-2013); Chair, Standing Committee on the Federal Judiciary (2006-2007); Standing Committee on Judicial Independence (2007-2008); Member, Board of Governors (2003-2005).
• YWCA USA:  National Board of Directors, June 2018-Present.
• American Antitrust Institute:  Board of Directors, 2016-Present.
• DirectWomen:  Chair, 2013-2018; Vice-Chair, 2011-2013; Co-Founder, 2007; Advisory Board Member, October 2018-Present.
• Pennsylvania Supreme Court Committee on Racial and Gender Bias in the Justice System: Co-Chair, Gender Bias Committee, 2000-2003.
• Center for Women in Law, University of Texas School of Law: Leader-in-Residence, May 2012-May 2016.
• National Association of Women Lawyers Foundation: Board Member, 2010-2014.
• Forum of Executive Women, Board Member 2010-2016.
• Anti–Defamation League, Chair, Eastern Pennsylvania and Delaware Region, 2007–2009.
• Women’s Way, Board Member 2001–2008.