THIS IS THE SECOND time round for the Lexpert Zenith Awards: Celebrating Leading Women Lawyers. Four years ago, we were inspired by a Harvard Business Review article entitled “Women and the Labyrinth of Leadership.” Essentially, its authors contended that women in business no longer faced a glass ceiling, but rather a host of challenges that made it difficult to rise to the top. This year, we take a look at the now classic dilemma: “Should I Stay or Should I Go?” — referring of course to the question that women lawyers in business firms ask. Would I be better off, at work and personally, if I moved in-house? Those of you who attended this year's Zenith Awards event will have heard former LSUC Treasurer Laurie Pawlitza debate this question with lawyer and consultant Jordan Furlong.
And so one wonders, what will Lexpert document about women in business law going forward? There will be many and diverse accomplishments surely. Among these, Lexpert predicts that more women lawyers will be taking entrepreneurial routes to face down some of the challenges that exist in law and for women. Some may find exciting opportunities in private practices that respond to client need with different organizational structures. Is this the third answer to the aforementioned dilemma?
This year, employment lawyers Janice Rubin and Christine Thomlinson are celebrating 10 years of their eponymous firm, which was named one of the most successful businesses owned by Canadian women in the 14th annual PROFIT and Chatelaine W100 ranking of Canada's Top Female Entrepreneurs.
More recently, former Davies LLP veteran Carol Hansell launched an independent firm “to specialize in advising boards on scandals, investigations, major deals and other governance concerns.” According to the Globe and Mail , Hansell may have started solo, but she has leased an 8,000-square-foot office in Toronto's Brookfield Place complex and expects “this office is going to be filled up in 18 months.” To be clear, Hansell has not ascribed her new venture as having anything to do with being a woman; however, we predict that other women lawyers will find inspiration in her entrepreneurial venture.
And so one wonders, what will Lexpert document about women in business law going forward? There will be many and diverse accomplishments surely. Among these, Lexpert predicts that more women lawyers will be taking entrepreneurial routes to face down some of the challenges that exist in law and for women. Some may find exciting opportunities in private practices that respond to client need with different organizational structures. Is this the third answer to the aforementioned dilemma?
This year, employment lawyers Janice Rubin and Christine Thomlinson are celebrating 10 years of their eponymous firm, which was named one of the most successful businesses owned by Canadian women in the 14th annual PROFIT and Chatelaine W100 ranking of Canada's Top Female Entrepreneurs.
More recently, former Davies LLP veteran Carol Hansell launched an independent firm “to specialize in advising boards on scandals, investigations, major deals and other governance concerns.” According to the Globe and Mail , Hansell may have started solo, but she has leased an 8,000-square-foot office in Toronto's Brookfield Place complex and expects “this office is going to be filled up in 18 months.” To be clear, Hansell has not ascribed her new venture as having anything to do with being a woman; however, we predict that other women lawyers will find inspiration in her entrepreneurial venture.
