Our Sponsors
DWL has a four-tier annual corporate sponsorship program. DWL’s corporate sponsorship is by invite only and organisations are invited in January each year to participate in sponsorship. DWL welcomes its 2024 corporate gold, silver and bronze sponsors.
There is enormous strength in the unique backgrounds and life experiences our people bring to our firm. They help us expand our thinking. They help us grow.
Allens appreciates the enormous value and unique contribution that different backgrounds and life experiences bring to the firm. We are committed to embracing these contributions, which enable us to connect with clients, make better decisions, solve complex problems, innovate, and attract and retain great people.
Allens is proud to partner with and support DWL’s initiative to create a more diverse profession. Consistent with our strong commitment to inclusion and diversity, Allens is pleased to support DWL Founder and Allens Senior Associate, Keerthi Ravi, as she mentors and sponsors diverse women embarking on their legal careers.
Read more about our approach to diversity, learn more about a career at Allens and follow us on LinkedIn.
GOLD SPONSORSHIP
Corrs Chambers Westgarth is Australia’s leading independent law firm.
With more than 175 years of history and a talented and diverse team of over 1000 people, we pride ourselves on our client-focused approach and commitment to excellence. Our success relies on attracting and retaining talented people with different ideas, backgrounds and experiences. Gender equality and diverse representation drives diverse thinking, high productivity and enhanced outcomes for our clients.
Diversity in its all forms should be embraced and celebrated. We’re delighted to partner with Diverse Women in Law to elevate and empower diverse women to achieve their full potential, for the benefit of our profession, clients and the community.
“Diverse teams and an inclusive working environment deliver a significant range of benefits.”
At Ashurst, our strategy is to put Inclusion, Diversity and Belonging at the heart of everything we do.
Fostering an inclusive culture where everyone feels a sense of belonging is key to Ashurst’s vision of being the most progressive global law firm. It allows us to offer exceptional service to our clients and create an extraordinary place for our people to work. We are committed in our efforts to drive gender equality, and ensure we focus on retaining and nurturing diverse talent by providing developmental opportunities to support our people to thrive.
Ashurst is proud to partner with and support DWL in Ashurst’s pursuit of increasing diverse women in the legal profession. DWL shares Ashurst’s commitment to improving diversity of all types and at all levels, through their meaningful events, initiatives and mentoring opportunities. Ashurst’s partnership with DWL, allows Ashurst the opportunity to champion diversity in law and empower our diverse women to be change-makers and leaders within the profession.
Please feel free to visit and connect with Ashurst on any of its social media channels.
“At Herbert Smith Freehills, we don’t expect our people to be or think the same – diversity and inclusion drive our success and the innovative solutions we deliver to our clients. That’s why fostering an inclusive culture where our people can be themselves, contribute their perspectives and perform roles which are meaningful and aligned to our shared values is a core business priority.” – Justin D’Agostino, CEO
HSF recognises the power of diversity and inclusion to drive innovation, collaboration and successful business outcomes. HSF aims to be the leading global law firm for diversity and inclusion, recognised by its people and the external market as a leading global law firm attracting, promoting, and retaining women. As of March 2024, women make up 37% of HSF’s Australian partnership – an 88% increase since 2014. Globally, HSF has set a global gender target that women comprise 40% of the global partnership by 2030. To that end, HSF has recently launched their 8 Drivers for Gender Equity, focused on the systemic and personal interventions necessary to achieve those gender targets.
HSF recognises the importance of intersectionality in promoting and sustaining diversity and inclusion in the legal profession and is excited to be a sponsor of and share these values with DWL.
HSF’s Diversity and Inclusion representative is Matthew Clements.
Please feel free to read about HSF’s diversity and inclusion strategy and connect with HSF on any of its social media channels:
Our gold sponsors are involved in DWL’s professional development events. In 2024, Corrs Chambers Westgarth and Thomson Geer will sponsor the Advocacy Program semi final rounds and awards ceremony. Ashurst will sponsor the Written Applications Workshop, HSF will sponsor the Interview Skills Workshop and Industry Gap event and Allens will host the Recruitment & Retention Roundtable.
Thomson Geer firmly believes in equal opportunity, diversity and inclusion. Diversity is inherent to the way Thomson Geer operates and is core to the success of our business and people.
Diversity refers to respecting and harnessing differences. It is born out of a recognition that individuals are unique and characterised by a range of differing dimensions - age, gender, ethnicity, sexual orientation, socio-economic status, physical ability, religious or cultural belief, and gender identity.
The firm has in place a range of initiatives focused on maintaining a diverse and inclusive work environment. Key to our culture is ensuring an environment where our people are encouraged to bring their whole selves to work.
Thomson Geer is proud to support Diverse Women in Law and its mission to empower and support diverse women through all stages of their legal studies and career. The firm shares DWL’s commitment to empowering Diverse Women in the legal profession.
Please feel free to visit and connect with Thomson Geer on any of its social media channels:
SILVER SPONSORSHIP
Gilbert + Tobin (G + T) values and is dedicated to inclusion. G + T is committed to providing and maintaining a diverse and inclusive environment and a culture which fosters and celebrates difference. We have a long and proud history of celebrating diversity, equality and fairness and have a genuine appreciation that having diverse people around our firm enriches our environment.
For G + T it is about diversity of thinking and integrating people's life experience into our work culture to ensure that we are as diverse as, and reflective of the wider community.
G + T has been recognised as a leading employer for diversity and gender equality. With our Diversity Council, Gilbert + Tobin seeks to drive awareness and continue to be interventionist in addressing issues of bias across, Gender Equality, Cultural and Social Inclusion, Disability and Accessibility, First Nations, and LGBTQ+.
We are proud to partner with and support DWL in their pursuit to empower, mentor and support diverse women.
G + T’s Diversity, Equity + Inclusion representative is Karen Arkins.
Please feel free to visit and connect with G + T on any of its social media channels.
Norton Rose Fulbright values diversity and the benefits diverse teams bring to our clients. We also strive to create a culture of inclusion, one where our people have a sense of belonging and can bring their whole selves to work each and every day. Our global gender diversity target of 40:40:20 focuses our recruitment efforts and development programs on gender parity and ensuring all genders will thrive in our workplace.
We are proud to partner with and support DWL’s mission that is consistent with our focus on equity and creating an even playing field for all. This includes a goal to become more culturally diverse, to create a workplace free from barriers for those living with disability and people from all socio-economic backgrounds in addition to creating leading practices and inclusive policies for carers and our LGBTIQ+ colleagues through our active Pride Network. DWL has a unique platform to help shape the future workforce of Norton Rose Fulbright, and the legal industry and we are excited to be part of that journey.
NRF’s Head of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion is Amelia Britton.
Please feel free to visit and connect with NRF on any of its social media channels and read about NRF’s diversity, equity and inclusion strategy:
Instagram @nortonrosefulbright and @nortonrosefulbrightstudents
At Clyde & Co, creating an inclusive culture and maintaining a diverse workforce is vital to the way we operate. It’s crucial that our people feel happy, respected, and able to be their whole selves at work. Having a workforce from a variety of backgrounds and experiences helps us harness the power of different perspectives, to better innovate, problem solve, and drive change.
We continue to embed D&I into all our internal people processes and have added criteria on D&I as part of the promotion to Legal Director and Partner processes, and D&I questions have been added to our Career Development Framework for all levels and roles.
Clyde & Co is therefore proud to partner with DWL in our common pursuit of supporting those who self-identify as women, non-binary and gender diverse throughout their legal studies and careers, as well as those who self-identify as being from an underrepresented background.
Clyde & Co’s diversity and inclusion representative is Christie McGregor.
Please connect with us via LinkedIn and find out more about our CSR initiatives here.
Our silver sponsors are involved in facilitating DWL’s social justice initiatives. KWM will sponsor the grand final round of the Advocacy Program, Clyde & Co will sponsor the Barrister Shadowing & Court Observation Program and Norton Rose Fulbright will sponsor the CLC and Pro Bono Panel and Gilbert + Tobin will sponsor the annual Walk in My Shoes event.
BRONZE SPONSORSHIP
Our vision for a more diverse and inclusive workplace at Clayton Utz includes a focus on gender equality, cultural diversity, accessibility & inclusion, LGBTIQ inclusion, and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. Involvement with Diverse Women in Law (DWL) offers us an avenue to advance this agenda. The importance that DWL and its activities place on acknowledging broader diversity and intersectionality is particularly appealing.
Having recently refreshed our gender equality strategy and reaffirmed our status as a WGEA Employer of Choice for Gender Equality, we're excited about improving the visibility and engagement of our diverse women.
Clayton Utz's diversity and inclusion representative is Alison Woolsey.
You can learn more or connect with us through our Website and LinkedIn.
At DLA Piper, being diverse and inclusive means we can attract the best talent, build the most effective teams, and deliver exceptional service to our clients. And most importantly, it means everyone is valued for who they are. Everyone at our firm should feel safe to be themselves and have their voice heard.
Our aim is for at least 30% of all Partners to be women by 2025 and we aim to double the number of women in our Partnership to at least 40% by 2030. Our employee networks play a vital role in strengthening the inclusivity of our culture, driving diversity and supporting our people.
We partner with organisations to promote equality and social justice in our communities, and we’re proud to partner and support DWL in their efforts to empower and support diverse women through all stages of their legal studies and careers.
DLA Piper’s Diversity and Inclusion Manager is Nerissa Byrne.
MinterEllison focuses on a number of key areas of Diversity & Inclusion, each with its own programs to drive awareness and inclusion capability across the firm. This includes: Gender Equality, Cultural diversity, Disability inclusion, LGBTQ+ inclusion, Safe workplace and Support for caregivers.
MinterEllison had the pleasure of first being involved with DWL’s initiatives in 2020 and we are excited to further our relationship in 2024.
MinterEllison’s diversity and inclusion representative is Lauren Levin.
Please feel free to visit and connect with Minter Ellison on any of its social media channels and read about the firm’s commitment to diversity and inclusion.
QUOTES FROM OUR BOARD MEMBERS
Our lived experience, the challenges that many diverse women face, and the resilience demonstrated in the face of those challenges, are a testament to our strengths and capacities…
I am confident that DWL will continue to grow and provide continuing support, guidance and mentorship to diverse women in the legal profession.
- Her Honour Judge Yehia SC, DWL Board Member and 2022 Chair
“2023 presents new opportunities for DWL. We look forward to deepening our engagement with law firms, the non-corporate sector, the Bar, the judiciary and beyond. We look forward to supporting First Nations women in their careers within the law. We also look forward to not only continuing important conversations about diversity, but being part of practical and meaningful change within the law and legal profession.”
- Rose Khalilizadeh, DWL Board Member and 2024 Chair
“What I love about this organisation and its people is that we have collectively made it a priority to roll up our sleeves and get to work. Conversations are important and are a precursor to facilitating meaningful change, but unless this translates to real and tangible steps to change the status quo, we may never see that change that we seek. To this end, numerous law firms have heard our call to action by sponsoring our events, senior practitioners have given up their valuable time to mentor and support DWL members and our 100-member volunteer force continues to grow from strength to strength.”
- Keerthi Ravi, Founder of Diverse Women in Law & Senior Associate at Allens
Contact us.
DWL invites organisations whose values align with ours to contact us to discuss sponsorship options.