Kirsty Wilson

25×25 is an organization [which is] very important for Baker Mackenzie to be a part of it. It’s all about teamwork, the reason for being part of 25×25.

In order to bring about change, you need teamwork. And as a law firm, and in professional services, we shouldn’t just be focusing on the issues of improving our diversity and inclusion by working within our own profession. And an organization such as 25×25, which is bringing about change and bringing people together through different businesses across society, is really important because you don’t just learn from sharing the issues and the problems that you have, but there’s a real benefit to sharing the solutions.

And so, the vantage point that 25×25 gives, I think is really important for all of us in terms of, enhancing, and moving forward with, improving the representation of, women in senior roles in professional services. And I would probably also add as well that being involved in organizations that are, include professional services and the wider business community, helps with that point as well to understand what our clients are also concerned about and what our clients are doing. And being close to our clients is very important for our business as well. So those insights are an added bonus from being part of 25×25.

Christine Lagarde, now of the European Central Bank. She started at Baker Mackenzie, as an employment lawyer in Paris, and she was our chair in the early 2000s for five or six years. So, we are very proud of Christine both during her time here and obviously for her stellar career after her time at Baker McKenzie. And [she was] a very early champion of everything that an inclusive and a diverse law firm should be.