The latest in a series of seminars entitled ‘Women Colleagues: Friend or Foe?’ has been the most successful to date for Magic Circle law firm Freshfields. 120 guests made up the most participants of all three held so far according to the organisers. The firm started the seminar for women lawyers and professionals working in the traditionally patriarchal jurisdictions of the Middle East to provide a platform for shared experiences and background.

The seminar was just one of a host of opportunities provided to female employees to engage in speaking and PR activities and boost their profile within the profession. The firm gives female lawyers senior positions within the region, similar to those in western jurisdictions, allowing them to interact with industry peers and clients in the area which include regional and state government entities, international financial institutions and both international and domestic corporations. “Senior women lawyers are given primary carriage of matters which results in them enjoying the well earned respect of their industry peers.  Through this series we demonstrate our support and commitment to our female employees and to the broader community of women working in the MENA region,” said Erin Miller Rankin, a senior associate and founder of the MENA Women in Business organisation.

Miller Rankin said the seminar had changed the way the firm is viewed by employees and clients in three ways: by introducing the issue of women in the workforce within MENA countries in a way it had not previously been discussed; bringing together senior level professionals from a wide range of sectors to ensure informed and far-reaching discussion and, according to Freshfields employees in attendance,  allowing the firm to showcase its expertise across a number of geographies and key sectors. This led to a double benefit, according to Miler Rankin, as those who attended were able to discuss work matters with senior figures in areas such as banking, oil & gas and aerospace and they were also able to discuss how organisational structures breed complexity within relationships between female colleagues.

Miller Rankin also said that the outlook was bright for future seminars, after receiving overwhelmingly positive feedback. “The feedback has been extremely positive and the level of interest in the seminars has increased considerably over the series,” she concluded.