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14 June 2022Influential Women in IPMuireann Bolger

Q&A: Laura Orlando, HSF: ‘Breaking glass ceilings’

The firm’s global head of IP shares her experience of building a practice from scratch in a new market, and the importance of carving a ‘niche’.

Can you tell us about your career so far?

I am the managing partner of Herbert Smith Freehills in Italy, as well as the joint global IP Head and EMEA life sciences head at the firm.

When I graduated from the University of Pavia in Italy, I knew already that I would become a litigator. I was passionate about the legal system and went on to take a doctorate degree in civil procedural law from the University of Bologna.

I then started my career in an IP boutique, where I developed my passion for patents in particular and life sciences. I understood early on that the key to a successful patent litigation practice was a credible and integrated international platform allowing a focus on multi-jurisdictional sophisticated work for multinational businesses.

I moved to an international law firm, where I managed to build an award-winning IP practice and was promoted to Italian head of disputes, while I was on maternity leave, which was quite unheard of in the Italian market.

I joined HSF in 2018 to set up the Milan office as part of the firm’s plan to build a pan-European patent litigation platform. I was the first woman in Italy to become the founding partner of the Italian office of a leading International law firm. Coincidentally, I was also expecting my second son at the time. Clearly, my two periods of maternity leave have coincided with peaks in my career.

What are the best parts of your job?

There is nothing that I love as much as running and winning major court cases for my clients. It is this intellectually challenging part of my job as a lawyer, shaping the business strategy and getting great results for my clients that I love most.

I used to train and swim competitively, so the desire to achieve new objectives and go beyond comes naturally to me. But I also love the fact that there is a strong “people and culture” element attached to my job, in particular in my leadership roles.

What is the most difficult part of your job?

I have a dual role as an IP lawyer and practice head, so my days are very different, from one to another. There are days where I am in back-to-back meetings and calls, or I am in court to plead a case. On other days, I mainly engage in business development.

The challenge that I face everyday is to juggle the two different and equally exciting aspects of my job. Striking the right balance is sometimes difficult, especially when critical court activities demand my time. And everyday I am a Mum of two boys. I definitely like variety!

Have you faced any barriers or challenges in your career?

There have been occasions where being the youngest lady in the room in a senior role has meant that it took a little bit more to get the necessary recognition, but I have broken through glass ceilings in many ways. For example, I became a partner when I was pretty young, compared to market standards.

What is your biggest achievement?

Establishing HSF in Italy from scratch has been one of my biggest achievements, and the launch in Milan has been a stepping stone to the firm's further expansion in Europe. My most recent achievement has been to take on the role as joint global head of the firm's IP practice alongside my Sydney-based partner Rebekah Gay.

This is quite a thrill. As a global practice, we work extremely closely, and that has enabled us to cement our position as a force to be reckoned with right across the globe.

What advice would you give to those looking to pursue a similar career path?

I have specialised early on. This has been a key door opener for me in many passages of my career. The advice I would give is to soon identify one's own niche area and try to go with the best mentors in that area.

Who or what inspires you?

There have been some senior colleagues who have mentored and inspired me along the way. I also have a place that has always inspired me, warmed and cheered my heart: a beautiful stretch of coast near Portofino where I have been spending my holidays since I was a child.

What are the major issues facing women in law?

Although progress has been made structurally and culturally, there is still a long way to go before we have gender parity in the partnership and in leadership roles.

Is the legal profession doing enough to improve gender diversity?

There have been improvements, but there is more that we can do in the legal profession. In 2014, HSF led the way in the legal profession to publicly set international gender targets, within a specific timeframe.

Over the past five years, our results show that we have had success in highlighting and addressing the issue of gender diversity in our partnership pipeline and in the partnership.

The targets were refreshed in 2019 and I have seen a genuine change in the way the firm has approached gender diversity. It has enabled us to examine everything we do and find ways to improve the initiatives already in place.

It has also opened up the D&I conversation to the wider firm, and ensures everyone takes ownership of the issue and strives for ways to achieve our targets, from across the whole business.

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