International law firm Trowers & Hamlins has hosted a series of events to celebrate International Women's Day 2019.
Many of the events have been organised through the firm's diversity and inclusion committee, TrowersIncludes, to celebrate and recognise the achievements of women worldwide, while continuing to campaign for greater progress towards gender equality.
Events have taken places across the firm's UK and international offices and have included an internal panel session discussing balancing family and career, challenges and inspirations and a networking event with HouseProud and Planning Out, with out and proud LGBTQ+ speakers who showcased the benefits of striving for a diverse balance in their respective professions.
The firm also sponsored West Midlands Women's Voice: In Conversation with Dr Helen Pankhurst and hosted events in Bahrain in collaboration with Afkarech, Bahrain's women's empowerment social network and think tank, and Dubai, with guest speaker Zoë Cousens discussing why women need to be saving, investing and planning more generally for the future. Trowers' collaboration with Interlaw's case studies series added to celebrations internationally.
Trowers' celebrations for International Women's Day were echoed by the recent announcement of a low mean gender pay gap of 0.8% in favour of women across the whole of its partnership.
Helen Randall, partner and TrowersIncludes champion said: "It is natural for us to celebrate International Women's Day with events and activities that the entire firm can get involved in."
"This week's events, and our wider diversity initiative, TrowersIncludes, aim to include everyone in the wider discussion and education about diversity and inclusion issues. I'm delighted to see the commitment and enthusiasm for these events and what they stand for from colleagues and clients alike. Our celebrations are particularly poignant this year as we mark the centenary of women being able to practice the law in England, and we are proud that this progression is evident in our partnership – which is over 40% female – and that we have female senior and managing partners."
Trowers' commitment to championing diversity is also evident by the firm being the fastest moving organisation in the 2018 national Stonewall Workplace Equality Index, moving 103 places to be ranked 154th out of 434. The firm also achieved a 93 point score out of a possible 200 for its dedication to champion inclusion and pushing equality forward.
Trowers can trace inclusivity back to Maud Isabel Ingram, who became the first woman to be articled to a solicitor at the firm in December 1919, and the first to obtain a certificate to practise in 1923.