International Women's Day

In our Bristol office, we welcomed Katy Taylor, Director at Bristol Women's Voice for an insightful and engaging discussion on Feminist Leadership, exploring how we can all make space for challenging and changing systemic bias, and champion those around us.

We also hosted an IWD Fair where many female-owned local businesses and organisations came to promote their businesses and sell their produce.

Brussels and Paris joined forces and in both offices, we honoured the day with a series of meaningful actions that reflect our commitment to gender equality and empowerment including:

1. Hosting a delightful breakfast, open to all, providing an opportunity to share a convivial moment and foster a sense of community and support.
2. Distributing purple ribbons - inviting everyone to wear them as a symbol of solidarity and support for women's rights.
3. Gifting a rose to each woman in the office - a simple yet heartfelt gesture to bring a smile to everyone's face and acknowledge the incredible contributions of women in our workplace.
4. Organising an engaging online quiz to test and expand our knowledge of women's rights, encouraging everyone to learn and reflect on the progress and challenges in this important area.

Additionally, we named each meeting room after an inspiring woman, a wonderful way to remember their incredible contributions and be inspired by their journeys every day.

In Dublin, the team hosted a successful International Women's Day Breakfast filled with insightful discussions and inspiring conversations. We were joined by guest speakers, Suzanne Cashin and Sarah Magee from RBC Brewin Dolphin, who provided invaluable insights into financial planning for the future.

Through our Stars skills academy, we hosted a virtual IWD special, discussing female career progression with our international panellists Jon Hammond, Vicky Grundy, Jo Elson, Colette Walsh-Jones, and Ombline Ancelin.

In London, for the March meeting of the Gender Balance Network, we invited two incredible speakers, Dr Felicity Gerry KC and Dana Denis-Smith.

Rights, Equality, and Empowerment with Simmons' Gender Balance Network

We discussed their work, activism and outlook through the lens of:

• celebrating the impact of women in law through the First 100 Years project
• how we can counter the rising opposition to DEI initiatives
• the very present challenges to female barristers in the court system
• the importance of discussing the legal system (and criminal responsibility) to young people

The session, hosted by Barbara Hamilton-Bruce and supported by Callum Brown was joined by several hundred staff and clients internationally.

In Luxembourg, we marked International Women's Day with a unique and artistic twist—a pottery painting workshop in collaboration with The Social Club LU! From bold colors to intricate designs, our team embraced their creativity, turning plain pots into vibrant works of art, a fun-filled session that left us with beautifully decorated pieces—and some fresh flowers to brighten up our office!

This year in Madrid, we teamed up with Maria Gimeno, visual artist, and Silvia Herreros de Tejada, writer and screenwriter to host an exclusive event entitled 'Women and Art'. We started with a networking breakfast, before giving way to presentations from our guests. Both shared their perspectives on the evolution of female representation in art and literature, the advances made by women creators and the persistent gender gap in these fields. The day continued with an enriching debate, where they reflected on the current challenges and opportunities to continue moving towards a society with greater equality.