WIPR Influential Women in IP 2019
www.worldipreview.com Foreword
Working towards a
diverse environment
WIPR’s Influential Women in IP initiative is another crucial piece of the conversation
about advancing women in the field of IP and building communities of like-minded
individuals—regardless of gender—who are committed to creating environments
where everyone can thrive, writes Nicola Dagg of Kirkland & Ellis.
n behalf of Kirkland & Ellis, I am so
proud to be the official Launch Partner
for WIPR’s Influential Women in IP. This
initiative is another crucial piece of
O
the conversation about not only advancing women
in the field of IP and ensuring things such as safe
work environments and equal pay, but also about
building communities of like-minded individuals—
regardless of gender—who are committed to diversity
and inclusion and creating environments where we
all can thrive and share ideas that will benefit the
IP community.
At the end of 2018, I took the opportunity of
a lifetime to join Kirkland’s market-leading IP
practice in the London office, where the percentage
of women in the practice’s partnership outpaces
that of the rest of the firm. One of the many exciting
things about my move to Kirkland is being a part
of a culture where women lawyers are empowered
through real work early on and have the ability to
carve their own career paths from the start.
A key to our women’s success is not only
strong mentorship, but also the firm’s progressive
benefits, services and programmes that help them
successfully balance their careers and personal lives.
This support has led to Kirkland’s being named one
of the Best Law Firms for Women every year since
2012. As mother to a seven-year-old daughter, this is
so important to me.
Kirkland is committed to ensuring a diverse
and inclusive environment, and advancement of
women in the legal profession is an important part
of this commitment. Our Diversity and Inclusion
I am thrilled to
be a part of a
firm that values
diversity and
the viewpoints
that come
from varying
backgrounds.
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Committee’s Gender Subcommittee is dedicated to
examining issues, policies and practices that directly
impact women lawyers at the firm.
Kirkland women serve in critical roles leading
our firm, clients and communities. Furthermore,
our Women’s Leadership Initiative (WLI) promotes
the recruitment, retention and advancement of
our women lawyers and aims to develop them into
leaders within their practice groups, the firm, the
legal profession and the community.
We aim to accelerate gender parity and inclusion
through our innovative WLI programming, and the
WLI and Gender Subcommittee’s work is enhanced
by a large network of allies and supporters at
Kirkland who share the goal of further promoting
gender diversity at the firm.
I am thrilled to be a part of a firm that values
diversity and the viewpoints that come from varying
backgrounds. I would not be where I am today
without the support and encouragement of other
amazing women, including the associates, partners,
and practice assistants who helped me manage my
time working in such a challenging, fast-paced and
rewarding environment.
I am equally privileged to work with clients
who value diversity, and to be able to mentor other
women as they create their own paths in the field of
IP. Thank you to WIPR for bringing gender diversity
in IP to the forefront, and congratulations to all of
the Influential Women in IP and the Trailblazers.
I am confident that together we can lift each other
up and continue to make the area of IP a dynamic,
exciting and rewarding field in which to work. l
Nicola Dagg
SHUTTERSTOCK / DEEPLAB