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; Treasurer, Insurance Committee
Lise Lotte Hjerrild Horten, Copenhagen, Denmark; Chair, Women Lawyers' Committee

Speakers

Christina Blacklaws The Law Society of England and Wales, London, England
Ezra 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