"Are We Still Ignoring Diversity? The UK Corporate Counsel Sector Has a Major Problem"

Despite years of pledges, the UK's corporate counsel sector remains shockingly homogenous. If you're tired of the same empty promises, this will hit home. The recent launch of the Corporate Counsel Women of Color (CCWC) UK chapter reveals just how deep the diversity gap runs...

Corporate Counsel Women of Color (CCWC) launched its UK chapter on July 18th at the Park Plaza Riverbank in London, marking a significant step towards addressing the gender and race diversity gap in the UK's corporate counsel sector. Sponsored by Kirkland and Ellis, a leading legal firm in the UK, the midsummer reception saw over 100 women from both the US and the UK come together to network and support each other in navigating a space that still lacks diversity, particularly in the UK.

Laurie Robinson-Haden, the founder of CCWC, explained her motivation for establishing the organization 20 years ago: "I set up CCWC 20 years ago because at that time I saw no one that looked like me in this space. I was tired of turning up to meetings and events to realize I was the only woman of color in the room. The first meeting of CCWC was just over 200 women; 20 years later, it is over 10,000."

Kirkland and Ellis agreed to sponsor this important launch of the UK chapter, underscoring the necessity of a similar initiative in the UK. Recognizing the significant diversity gap. Representing Kirkland and Ellis at the event were Joi Bourgeois, Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Strategist Leader, and Catherine Gokah, Partner (Investment Funds). On the UK side, the event was organized by Marie-Louise Skafte, CCWC board member, commercial pilot and cross border lawyer , and Dr. Yvonne Thompson, CBE, Deputy Lieutenant For Greater London and  founder of Wintrade Global Women In Business Network.

Baroness Verma of Leicester – Member of the House of Lords,in the UK Parliament, endorsed the launch saying “It’s inspirational to see so many successful women leading the way in the US who are happy and willing to network and cheerlead for their UK counterparts.

Dr. Thompson expressed her optimism: "Having spoken at and witnessed the US events several times, I know there's a lot of room to grow in the UK and look forward to being part of the team to support that growth."

Marie-Louise Skafte, a qualified lawyer in Canada, the US and solicitor in England also hailed the event as a complete success.  The CCWC board member stated. “There are still very few women of color in the legal and aviation industries in which I work and we at CCWC have a strong desire to collaborate and support our corporate counsel peers in the UK.” 

Ms. Robinson-Haden and Ms. Skafte noted the evident need for such an organization in the UK to support the growth of women of color in the corporate counsel sector and they extended an invitation to the upcoming 20th Anniversary CCWC Event with inaugural UK CCWC Chapter Dinner in Las Vegas in October; promising more opportunities for extraordinary networking.

The event featured entertainment from Jermain Jackman, winner of The Voice 2014. CCWC provides more than just a networking platform; it offers support, training, mentoring, and coaching for women of color in the corporate counsel sector.

 For more information on CCWC and details about joining the Las Vegas event, click here. https://bit.ly/London-CCWC

 UK Statistics and Context

While comprehensive statistics specifically detailing the number of women of color employed as corporate counsel in the UK are not readily available, the broader context of diversity within the UK legal profession indicates significant underrepresentation:

1. Diversity in the Legal Profession: A 2020 report from the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) highlighted that only 21% of solicitors were from Black, Asian, and minority ethnic backgrounds. Within this group, Black solicitors represented just 3% of the profession.

2. Women in the Legal Sector: According to the Law Society’s Annual Statistics Report 2021, women make up 52% of all solicitors with practising certificates. However, they remain underrepresented in senior roles, with only 31% of partners in law firms being women.

3. Intersectionality of Gender and Race: The combination of gender and racial diversity paints a more challenging picture. Women of color often face compounded biases and barriers in the legal profession. The lack of specific data on women of color in corporate counsel roles underscores the need for initiatives like CCWC to shine a light on these disparities and promote more inclusive practices.

The establishment of the UK chapter of CCWC signifies a crucial move towards addressing these challenges, providing a platform for advocacy, support, and professional development tailored to women of color in the corporate counsel sector.

 For more information on CCWC and details about joining the Las Vegas event, click here. https://bit.ly/London-CCWC