Interview with...
Morgan Lewis is the largest law firm in the world led by a woman. In this interview with US editor (content) Helen Donegan, firm chair Jami McKeon provides insight into her plans for her second term in the role, reveals what most challenges and excites her in her work, and shares her thoughts on women in the legal profession
The firm has changed dramatically since you first became chair. Has your focus changed for your second term and, if so, what is your main focus now? It is certainly correct that our firm has changed dramatically. Expanding in practice areas and locations where our clients most need us has led to us growing by …
Continue reading “It’s all about engagement – in our clients, our people, our communities”
Interview with...
Helen Donegan, US editor (content), speaks with DLA Piper’s Ann K. Ford about the launch of a tech-focused financial regulatory practice, creating a global competitive edge, the challenges still facing female attorneys, and the firm’s Leadership Alliance for Women
On January 22, DLA Piper announced you have become the sole US chair and global co-chair of the firm’s Intellectual Property and Technology (IPT) practice. Can you tell me a bit more about your move into this role in addition to other roles you hold within the firm? I have been in leadership roles for …
Continue reading “We don’t grow simply to grow”
Interview with...
Jennifer Selendy, Selendy & Gay’s co-managing partner, speaks with Helen Donegan about the firm’s recent successes, creating a culture of excellence, and the challenges facing women in the legal profession
In recognition of the firm’s two-year anniversary, can you start by telling us about the key successes for Selendy & Gay to date? We set out to build something different and something that could drive excellence and a collaborative, client-centred service. So, the quality of the practice we’ve built over these past few years is …
Continue reading “Talented people look for meaning in their careers”
Interview with...
Caroline Green, Browne Jacobson’s new senior partner, talks to John van der Luit-Drummond about firm leadership, #MeToo, Brexit, why the High Street isn’t dying, and the importance of listening to your people
You were Browne Jacobson’s first female partner and were recently elected its first female senior partner. How have the attitudes towards women in law, and women leaders, changed during your career? There is no doubt that attitudes towards women in law have changed dramatically since I qualified as a solicitor in 1984. As part of …
Continue reading “There are too few senior women leaders, but the tide is turning”
The client side
Helen Donegan, US editor (content), recently spoke with Meredith Moore, global diversity and social responsibility director, and Robert Lennon, chief business development and communications officer, about how Weil transformed its approach to diversity in client pitch activity with measurable results
Although Weil has had a longstanding commitment to promoting and supporting its talented female attorneys through its ‘Women@Weil’programme and other initiatives, the firm, like most in Big Law, knew it had to do more. As part of this effort, Weil’s management committee formed a Taskforce on Women’s Engagement & Retention (TOWER) in 2014, and the …
Continue reading “Pitch parity: Transforming gender diversity in client pitch activity”
Helen Donegan, US editor (content), speaks to Anat Hakim, one of the influential in-house lawyers included in The Legal 500’s 2019 United States GC Powerlist, a former GC and board secretary at WellCare Health Plans and new senior vice president and GC for Eli Lilly. Anat speaks about making the move in-house, revamping her legal team at WellCare and investing in individual development, as well as how she works with outside counsel
To start us off, can you please tell me about the role you held at WellCare when you were included in the 2019 US GC Powerlist? I was general counsel and board secretary. Basically, I was the senior executive in charge of the WellCare legal department which handled all legal affairs for the company and …
Continue reading “Business priorities, challenges, and the many sucesses in in-house practice”
Diversity and inclusion
HFW’s Stephanie Lambert in Sydney and Jo Garland in Perth explain why partnership and parenthood should not be mutually exclusive
The fact that two women made partner of a large international firm when they had young children (while on maternity leave in fact) shouldn’t be news. But it is. If two men made partner while having young children it wouldn’t be news worthy and it happens all time. Stephanie Lambert and Jo Garland at HFW …
Continue reading “How will you come back to work after children?”
Lawyers with impairments need to lead by example to destigmatise disability and create awareness of our diverse abilities, says Ashleigh DoRozario, litigation lawyer at Potts Lawyers, Australia
I am a legally blind lawyer. I never thought I would say that! When I was growing up, I wanted to be a marine biologist but, sadly, chemistry was not my strong suit. After high school, I was unsure of my next move and fell into a legal secretary position at MinterEllison while I was …
Continue reading “Creating visibility for disability”
Change is inevitable, so only firms that look ahead will stand the test of time, says Sarah Henwood, CEO of the world’s oldest law firm, Thomson Snell & Passmore
Benjamin Franklin once said, ‘When you’re finished changing, you’re finished’. This year Thomson Snell & Passmore is celebrating 450 years, the world’s oldest law firm as certified by The Guinness Book of World Records. We wouldn’t be here today unless we were able to embrace change. From leading the way as early adopters of technology …
Continue reading “Survival of the most adaptable”
Female role models: spotlight on Norton Rose Fulbright’s US Management Committee
Female role models: spotlight on Norton Rose Fulbright’s US Management Committee
Four out of nine members of Norton Rose Fulbright’s US Management Committee are women. And three of these women come from minority backgrounds. In recognition of this strong example of female leadership within one of the largest global law firms, Helen Donegan (US editor for content) spoke with these partners to hear about their practices …
Continue reading “Finding your ‘belonging’ in law”
