InterLaw Diversity Forum for LGBT Networks

In September 2008 the InterLaw Diversity Forum launched its Women’s Initiative. The brainchild of Petra Braybrook of Simmons & Simmons’ corporate department, the Women’s Initiative was created after months of meetings and research by Petra and Daniel on how to engage the lesbian and bisexual women in the LGBT Legal Community.

The Women’s Initiative maintains its own mailing list and holds quarterly women-only meetings, in addition to other events aimed at addressing and promoting women’s issues in the legal sector.

The InterLaw Diversity Forum would like to thank the InterBank Forum for LGBT Networks,
Credit Suisse (Jemima Jefferson); Gay Women’s Network (Sophie Merrick and Carolyn Lee), and Stonewall
(Michelle Fullerton and David Shields) for their contributions to this project.

The Women’s Initiative has had a great effect, with a noted increase in female attendance at monthly meetings and events.

The Women’s Initiative held several meetings during 2009, 2010 and 2011. We would like to thank all of our generous hosts over this period, including Freshfields, Pinsent Masons, Simmons & Simmons and Norton Rose.

We also recently hosted a panel event on Feminist Judgements at Norton Rose in October 2011.

The Women’s Iniative is currently led by our InterLaw Diversity Forum co-chair Laura Hodgson of Norton Rose.