SWMW Law, one of the top plaintiffs law firms in the country focusing on representing victims of mesothelioma and other asbestos-related diseases, as well as individuals harmed by drugs, medical devices, environmental and toxic exposures, and consumer fraud, is proud to announce Partner Holly Deihl has been elected Chair-Elect of the Allegheny County Bar Assocation (ACBA) Women in the Law Division.
The council’s mission is to encourage and support women in the legal profession by providing opportunities for career advancement, networking, camaraderie, and continuing education. It also works to create and sponsor programming that educates members of the bar and the judiciary as to the impact of overt and subtle barriers when deny women the opportunity to achieve full integration and equal participation in the work, responsiblities, and rewards of the legal profession.
Deihl first joined the division in 2019 when she was elected to a three-year term as a council member. She was re-elected to a second term in 2022 and elevated to Chair-Elect in June. In 2024, she will become the division’s Chair.
As Chair-Elect, Deihl hopes to provide the women of the ACBA the tools and support she wishes she had in the beginning of her career and further advocate for gender equality in the profession.
“The legal profession is rewarding for several reasons – but for women, especially fresh out of law school, the path to get to that point isn’t as easy to navigate as it is for men,” Deihl said. “I remember in the early days of my career, there was a significant absence of women in leadership and mentoring roles; I didn’t have anyone to look up to, emulate, or help guide me. It often felt isolating and I can’t help but wonder how different my career would look if I had the support and guidance from a female mentor in my junior years. It’s something I don’t want others to have to experience.”
“The proverbial needle for gender equality has moved a great deal in the almost 20 years I’ve been an attorney, but there’s still much work to be done,” she continued. “So many female attorneys have thrown in the towel and left the legal career due to the obstacles they have encountered. Who knows what great talents we have lost as a result. As Chair-Elect, I hope to provide women the mentoring opportunities I so desperately wanted, as well as the support and empowerment that will help pave the way for them to enjoy the professional development and rewarding careers that our male counterparts do.”
Deihl, who joined SWMW Law as a partner in 2021 and leads the firm’s Pittsburgh office, has committed her life to serving others, both in and out of the courtroom. In her work with the firm, she represents victims of mesothelioma and other asbestos-related diseases and cancers. Going further than her position requires, she works behind-the-scenes to regularly prepare wills and powers-of-attorney for clients and their families – all at no cost to them.
Deihl’s commitment to her clients is mirrored by her commitment to the community. She works with the Western Pennsylvania Trial Lawyers Association (WPTLA) to draft wills for people in vulnerable communities, serves on her school district’s booster board for the high school baseball team, and is on the WPTLA’s planning committee for a 5K race that benefits the Pittsburgh Steelwheelers – a nonprofit dedicated to providing opportunities for those with disabilities to participate in sports.
In addition to her role as Chair-Elect of the ACBA Women in Law Division Counil, she also sits on the council’s Awards Committee, where she helps to recognize other women in the legal field for their leadership and achievements.
Additionally, Deihl is a fellow in the Allegheny County Bar Foundation, the charitable arm of the ACBA. In this role, she devotes a significant amount of her time raising money for the foundation and awarding grants to organizations that serve the community in a legal capacity, such as providing legal services to immigrants, women and children at no-cost. She also serves as Chair for the ACBA Bench Bar Planning Committee, a position she earned after being nominated by her peers.