IBA Annual Conference Paris 2023
29 Oct - 3 Nov 2023
Room 252 A&B, Level 2
Session information
Stop preaching to the choir! Male champions as catalysts of gender parity in law firms
Wednesday 1 November (1430 - 1545)
Room 252 A&B, Level 2
Committee(s)
Women Lawyers' Committee
(Lead)
Diversity and Equality Law Committee
European Regional Forum
IBA Diversity & Inclusion Council
IBA Legal Policy & Research Unit
LGBTQI+ Law Committee
Law Firm Management Committee
Young Lawyers' Committee
Description
This session will examine which role male champions of gender equity and equality at corporate law firms can have as catalysts for change. While women law firm leaders and women lawyers need to work towards achieving greater gender parity, they are keenly aware of the challenges they face and what needs to be done to have an increasingly levelled playing field. Thus, having women discuss these matters solely amongst themselves is like preaching to the choir. Given that in most countries a wide majority of law firm leaders are men (including managing partners, executive committee members, shareholders/equity partners, etc), the question arises whether greater male involvement in and ownership of gender parity goals can serve as an accelerator towards reaching those goals. The panel will present the latest research on the subject, as well as the panellists' experiences and best practices regarding male champions of gender equity and equality at corporate law firms.
Session / Workshop Chair(s)
| Jennifer Bishop | Aird & Berlis, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Senior Vice Chair, Women Lawyers' Committee |
| Neftali Garro | BLP, San Jose, Costa Rica; Communications Officer, Women Lawyers' Committee |
| Lise Lotte Hjerrild | Horten, Copenhagen, Denmark; Chair, Women Lawyers' Committee |
Speakers
| Christina Blacklaws | The Law Society of England and Wales, London, England |
| Mziwandile Ezra Clavis Davids | Bowmans, Johannesburg, South Africa; Chair, Private Equity Subcommittee |
| Darien Leung | Torys LLP, New York, New York, USA |
| Sarah Malik | SOL International Ltd, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates |
| Alexander Schwarz | Gleiss Lutz, Düsseldorf, Germany; LPD Council Member |