shutterstock_754453969_rawpixelcom
13 May 2020Influential Women in IPRory O'Neill

Help protect D&I in legal services industry, GC urged

The founder of a London legal services company fears that the COVID-19 pandemic could leave behind a “less diverse, less vibrant market and that will be to the detriment of everyone working in the legal profession”.

The warning came from Dana Denis-Smith, CEO of  Obelisk Support, in an open letter to general counsel published in  Artificial Lawyer.

According to Denis-Smith, a snap poll she conducted of female business owners in the sector revealed that 39% have seen sales drop “considerably”, while 21% have found it harder to access funding.

The Obelisk CEO says general counsel have a role to play in supporting smaller firms in their supply chains, including women-owned businesses.

While there may be a “temptation for in-house counsel to turn to traditional suppliers that are perceived as less risky,” Dana-Smith urged counsel to think about long-term diversity of suppliers in the market.

Describing some of the “essential actions” that general counsel could take today, she said they should “make sure you reach out to women-owned businesses” when looking for service providers.

The letter was signed by 27 others, including women working in the legal services industry.

“On behalf of all women who have together contributed to an emerging ecosystem of alternative legal services companies, we ask that when reviewing budgets and making procurement decisions in the coming weeks and months, you consider the long-term benefits of maintaining greater competition, innovation and supplier diversity in the sector,” they urged general counsel.

Earlier this week, WIPR reported that law firm  Seyfarth Shaw had joined the  Belonging Project, a coalition of groups aimed at supporting diversity in the legal industry during the pandemic.

Project member D'Arcy Kemnitz, who is executive director of  National LGBT Bar Association, warned that crises such as the current pandemic could negatively impact diversity in the industry, as the 9/11 terror attacks did.

The Belonging Project offers a “virtual” hub of tools for diverse attorneys and staff to use, including webinars and virtual one-on-one coaching.

Obelisk  published a report last month which concluded it would be incumbent on in-house teams to drive diversity after the pandemic.

In the report, Dana-Smith identified five ‘pillars’ for a sustainable in-house team: flexibility; challenging work and career paths; health and wellbeing; diversity and inclusion; and leadership and role models.

General counsel should work with recruiters to consciously develop a more diverse workforce, she argued.

Today’s top stories

Delhi High Court suspends India’s IP deadlines

USITC to investigate Philip Morris over e-cigarettes

English Court of Appeal rejects Glencairn in Chinese wall dispute

Haynes and Boone hires former Time Warner TM counsel

Already registered?

Login to your account

To request a FREE 2-week trial subscription, please signup.
NOTE - this can take up to 48hrs to be approved.

Two Weeks Free Trial

For multi-user price options, or to check if your company has an existing subscription that we can add you to for FREE, please email Adrian Tapping at atapping@newtonmedia.co.uk


More on this story

Influential Women in IP
25 June 2020   The Black Solicitors Network, a not-for-profit organisation promoting the interests of black solicitors in the UK, has urged law firms and legal service providers to “walk the talk” on diversity.
Influential Women in IP
2 February 2021   Following a year of intense scrutiny on equity and inclusion in the legal profession, progress on diversifying the US legal system remains slow-but-steady, according to the latest report from the National Association for Law Placement.
Copyright
8 June 2023   The ex-Davis Wright Tremaine attorney hopes to strengthen the firm’s IP presence on the West Coast.