Smart & Biggar honoured at the 11th annual Women in Business Law Americas Awards
Smart & Biggar is proud to claim three prestigious firm awards by Euromoney Legal Media Group (LMG) in the 11th annual Women in Business Law Americas Awards 2022. The awards took place on June 9, 2022, at an in-person gala ceremony in New York City.
The firm was lauded with the awards for ‘Career Development North America Firm of the Year,’ ‘Gender Diversity North America Firm of the Year’ and ‘Canada Firm of the Year.’
Smart & Biggar partner and Chair of the Firm, Daphne Lainson said of the wins:
“We are incredibly proud to be recognized as a leading firm for women in law, women’s career development and for promoting gender diversity. On behalf of our partners and practitioners, our firm leaders as well as our executive committee, I congratulate everyone who has played a role in demonstrating ongoing leadership and support of women in the firm to move us forward in achieving gender equality and diversity in our practice.”
The Women in Business Law awards champion the women lawyers providing exemplary service, driving innovation and ultimately success for their practices. The awards also recognize the firm's advancing diversity in the profession and celebrate progressive and innovative firms that support the development of women in the legal profession and enable women to pursue legal careers and achieve an equitable standing within a traditionally male-dominated industry.
Women in Business Law Global Head of Awards Research, James Wilson, said of Smart & Biggar's wins:
“Smart & Biggar has stood out as the leading firm for women lawyers in Canada. The firm boasts a litany of impressive initiatives to encourage and promote women lawyers throughout their careers, has made strides to increase representation of women in partnership, management, and executive level positions within the firm. The firm has also retained immensely talented women in their life sciences and IP practice."
“Smart & Biggar is highly engaged in programs to promote gender diversity and has taken a leader position within North America. The firm not only has a focus on removing gender-based biases within the firm it also believes in supporting women in law by being the host firm for many events throughout the year. These include events for women in engineering, law, and IP”
“Smart & Biggar is oriented on developing women’s careers from recruitment to partnership and keeps a focus on diversity and inclusion. It has developed targeted coaching programs for their lawyers with one-on-one practitioner coaching and partner level coaches for associates, whilst also ensuring that there is no systemic gender bias in compensation and providing a holistic approach to reviewing performance.”
The full list of this year’s Women in Business Law Award winners is available to view now.
About Smart & Biggar
Smart & Biggar is widely recognized as Canada’s leading firm for intellectual property law, with offices in Ottawa, Toronto, Montréal, Vancouver and Calgary. We are leaders in intellectual property and technology law and have been serving clients for over a century.