The 10th World Women Lawyers' Conference: Driving Change was a premier event organized by the International Bar Association (IBA) Women Lawyers' Committee. Held from October 23 to 25, 2024, at The Ritz-Carlton in Toronto, Canada, the conference aimed to address critical issues affecting women in the legal profession and to promote gender equity globally.
The conference featured a diverse range of sessions and discussions, including the "Male Champions for Change" roundtable, where male law firm leaders shared their experiences in advocating for and sponsoring women within their organizations. Another notable session, "Driving Change from the Top: CEO Perspectives on Gender Equity," provided insights from top executives on fostering gender equity at the highest organizational levels. Additionally, the conference addressed the impact of AI tools and legal technology on the practice of law, highlighting the evolving role of technology in the legal field.
Attendees had the opportunity to engage with a distinguished lineup of speakers, such as Charlene Theodore, Chief Inclusion Officer at McCarthy Tétrault, and Jennifer Bishop, Senior Partner at Aird & Berlis LLP. The event also offered networking opportunities, including a conference reception and dinner, facilitating connections among professionals committed to advancing women's roles in law.
This conference was particularly beneficial for legal professionals, including lawyers, judges, academics, and corporate counsel, who are dedicated to promoting diversity and inclusion within the legal industry. It provided a platform for sharing best practices, discussing challenges, and developing strategies to drive meaningful change in the profession.
Speakers(13)
Adeola Sunmola
Partner at Udo Udoma & Belo-Osagie
Adeola Sunmola is a partner at Udo Udoma & Belo-Osagie, specializing in banking and finance, power, projects, infrastructure, and compliance and investigations. She has been recognized as a 'Highly Regarded' Lawyer by IFLR1000 and is an honoree of the IFLR1000 Women Leaders, 2022.
Adrianna Finger
Associate at Debevoise & Plimpton LLP
Adrianna Finger is an associate at Debevoise & Plimpton LLP, focusing on white collar criminal defense, regulatory enforcement actions, and internal investigations for a wide variety of corporations, financial institutions, and non-profits.
Charlene Theodore
Chief Inclusion Officer at McCarthy Tétrault
Charlene Theodore is the Chief Inclusion Officer at McCarthy Tétrault, overseeing the firm’s Inclusion Now strategy. She is the first Black president of the Ontario Bar Association and has been recognized for her work in advancing the interests of women in the legal profession and society.
Darien Leung
Partner at Torys LLP
Darien Leung is a corporate partner at Torys LLP's New York office, specializing in debt finance. She advises financial institutions, pension funds, and other alternative lenders, as well as private equity sponsors and institutional borrowers in domestic and international transactions.
Jeffrey Davis
Vice-President and Associate General Counsel at Ontario Teachers' Pension Plan
Jeffrey Davis oversees Enterprise Legal Services, Compliance, Global Investment Counsel, and Taxation teams at Ontario Teachers' Pension Plan. He has nearly 20 years of legal experience, specializing in mergers and acquisitions and corporate finance.
Jennifer Bishop
Senior Partner at Aird & Berlis LLP
Jennifer Bishop is a senior partner at Aird & Berlis LLP, serving as Co-Chair of the firm’s Mergers & Acquisitions Group and Founder and Co-Chair of the Sports, Media & Entertainment Group. She is the Global Co-Chair of the International Bar Association’s Women Lawyers’ Committee and has been recognized as a leading Canadian business lawyer by multiple legal ranking organizations.
Katherine Tew Darras
General Counsel at International Swaps and Derivatives Association, Inc. (ISDA)
Katherine Tew Darras is the General Counsel of ISDA, leading the organization’s global legal strategy and advising on governance, regulatory, and market infrastructure issues affecting its membership of over 900 institutions across more than 70 countries.
Matthew Akman
Executive Vice President, Strategy and Corporate Development at Enbridge Inc.
Matthew Akman oversees corporate strategic planning, new energy technologies, and all renewable power operations and development globally at Enbridge Inc. He joined the company in 2016 and has a background in banking and strategic planning.
Mian R. Wang
Partner at Kirkland & Ellis LLP
Mian R. Wang is a partner at Kirkland & Ellis LLP, focusing on corporate malfeasance. She represents public and private companies, financial institutions, directors, officers, and individuals in commercial and bankruptcy litigation.
Noah Waisberg
Co-founder and CEO at Zuva
Noah Waisberg is the co-founder and CEO of Zuva, a company that uses AI to help businesses understand the details of their documents. Previously, he co-founded and served as CEO of Kira Systems for over ten years.
Priya Royal
Managing Attorney at Royal Law Firm PLLC
Priya Royal is the Managing Attorney at Royal Law Firm PLLC, specializing in international private client tax law. She advises ultra-high-net-worth individuals, global family offices, and private business owners on cross-border tax strategy, asset protection, and multigenerational wealth preservation.
Selena Kim
Partner at Gowling WLG
Selena Kim is a partner at Gowling WLG in Toronto, specializing in intellectual property law. She is the first woman to achieve the Certified Specialist designation for patent law by the Law Society of Ontario and has been recognized as one of Canada's most influential lawyers.
Steven Cohen
Partner at Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz
Steven Cohen is a partner at Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz, specializing in corporate and securities law, focusing on corporate governance, mergers and acquisitions, and private equity for both public and private businesses, as well as their boards and special committees.
Event Details
- Date
- October 23-25, 2024
- 3 days
- Location
- 🇨🇦 Toronto, Canada
- The Ritz-Carlton, Toronto, Canada
- Pricing
- $1,015 - $1,675
- Audience
- Legal professionals committed to diversity and inclusion
- CLE Credits
- Up to 15 CLE credits
- Attendees
- Not specified