After reports from the UK that a number of the big law firms have increased their female partnership targets to 30%, Simmons & Simmons has decided to help its female associates, who make up 65% of the total in its Asian offices, rise to the top and become partners. The firm intends to do this by introducing on-site childcare when it re-locates its Hong Kong offices, expected to happen in May 2011. “There is definitely an untapped potential here in Asia and the worry is that we have been too conventional in our thinking. We haven’t made the most of our somewhat unique situation here in Asia,” said Paul Li, Simmons & Simmons country head for China and the partner responsible for the firm’s diversity policy throughout Asia.
What is needed appears to be a dialogue, according to Simmons & Simmons’ Li. He said that the biggest issue associates raised with him was the fact they didn't get enough quality time with their young children. He also said that as a firm Simmons & Simmons has to reverse the mindset that women taking time off to have children is a bad thing. “As far as i’m concerned, if someone is a good lawyer now, there is every chance that they will still be a good lawyer after a five-year break provided they have kept up with what is going on in the legal industry,” he said.
Simmons & Simmons’ situation in Asia does not, however, appear to be unique across firms. Sally Greig, Asia head of communications and marketing for, Clifford Chance, confirmed that the gender mix in the firm’s Hong Kong office is meeting targets set by head office. “It could have something to do with different working practices in this area,” she said. Overall the proportion of female lawyers at Clifford Chance is 48.4%, very close to half, though the number drops, to 14.5% at the partner level. That figure doesn’t take into account regional variations. Slaughter and May performs slightly better, with a 19% female partnership ratio.
Linklaters has managed to increase female partnership in its home jurisdiction of London to 24% following introduction of a diversity committee in August 2009. Firm-wide, Linklaters has 70 female partners and 57 female equity partners. Here in Asia It has introduced weekly ‘resourcing’ calls, where the workload can be re-distributed if some lawyers are overburdened. The firm’s website says this has had encouraging results and appeals to women who wish to start a family or maintain external commitments.
Such agreements aren’t yet prevalent in Asia but as the large firms begin to take the matter more seriously in their home offices the initiative is starting to impact Asian offices, according to the firm’s reports.