Numerous studies have been conducted regarding gender bias and inequality in the legal industry.
In fact, 65.9 % of all interruptions in court are directed by female justices in the American supreme court bench.
Moreover, it has been estimated that it will take 86 years for women and men in the legal sector to achieve equal pay. As a matter of fact, in 2015, the Italian government took action and passed a law that requires one third of board positions in Italian companies to be held by women. These are also known as the “pink quotas”. Yet, it does not seem that Italian law firms have adhered to these quotas.
In a 2021 survey performed by centro Studi Le font Legal, in the top 20 law firms in Italy only 18% of the partners are women. The survey revealed important statistics on major law firms in Italy, such as Nunziante Magrone (9 female partners out of 33), Pedersoli (9 female partners out of 34), Pavia and Ansaldo ( 9 female partners out of 36), Bonelli Erede (18 female partners out of 86), and many others.
Concerning the international firms that have offices in Italy, as of 2021, Shearman & Sterling, King & Wood Mallesons and K&L gates have zero female partners. Furthermore, Simmons&Simmons and Paul Hastings only have respectively 19% and 29% female partners.Hence, based on these statistics Italian law firms have more female representation in their boards than international law firms based in Italy.
However, there has been an effort made by firms to change these statistics. Diversity is often a core value for many firms and gender initiatives are frequently taking place.
As a matter of fact, 61.4% of Italian legal practitioners are women; over the last decade there has been a decrease of 10% in Italian male legal practitioners. Furthermore, firms are also taking active steps to increase female presence in the legal sector: DLA Piper: Women’s WIN; Dentons- Global Women’s Sponsorship program, White & Case - sponsorship program for women are a few examples.
Globally, 58% of firms professionals are women. And 38% of the firms partners are female. This progress has been achieved through the commitment to gender equality and the raising of awareness.
More precisely, the creation of the “gender equality week” in firms, including trainings and webinars; as well as additional support for the development of parters, women in particular; and the support for gender equality associations.
An example is Portolano Cavallo, which practices in areas range from commercial law, labour/employment and fashion/luxury fields. They are a leading firm in digital, media, technology and life sciences. This firm has 55% of its team composed of females, as well as 53% female partners.
As a result, the firm has been voted “Italian firm of the year” 11 times in a row at the Women In Business Law awards, and it is considered as being one of the Best Workplaces for Women 2021 Italy list. In addition to that, Portolano Cavallo participated in the European Women Shareholders Demand gender Equality” project in 2015, and the “Women, Business, and Law” project in both 2013 and 2015.
To conclude, many Italian women/lawyers have made it possible to become partners in major law firms, such as Roberta Crivellaro (Italian Office Managing Director of Withers), and Elena Busson (partner at Bonelli Erede).
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