Smart & Biggar helps #BreakTheBias in support of women in IP, legal and technology
Today on International Women’s Day, and every day throughout the year, Smart & Biggar is committed to actions that #BreakTheBias actively supports the advancement of women at our firm, in the IP, legal and technology industries, and in our local community.
In celebration and recognition of International Women’s Day, the firm will co-host an event with ChIPs Canada, “Breaking the Bias in IP” featuring a diverse panel of women leaders in IP, law and technology who will share their reflections
on this year’s theme #BreakTheBias. Learn more about the event taking place virtually on Wednesday, March 9th and register to attend online.
Additionally, team members across Canada will participate in an Allyship Workshop based on the LeanIn.org training program “50 Ways to Break Bias”.
The workshop focuses on common forms of conscious and unconscious gender bias, including culture bias and intersectionality, and provides participants with concrete skills and tools to take action as allies to #BreakTheBias.
“Smart & Biggar is committed to #BreakTheBias and fostering an inclusive environment that supports and empowers women to achieve professional success,” said Daphne Lainson, partner and Chair of the Firm. “We are also proud to
support industry initiatives and groups that promote equity, diversity and inclusion for women and other underrepresented groups in IP, law and business.”
At Smart & Biggar, women currently represent 25% of our partnership and 50% of leadership and supervisory roles. However, despite this progress, we are conscious of the systemic barriers and biases that women continue to face. We are focused every
day on challenging the status quo through a wide range of Diversity & Inclusion initiatives and programs.
As part of Smart & Biggar’s firmwide Allyship Challenge, all team members at Smart & Biggar are encouraged to raise their own personal awareness of the impact of privilege and bias on underrepresented individuals and groups and to commit themselves to Allyship both within and outside our workplace.
Additionally, Smart & Biggar is proud to continue our support of women’s initiatives in the IP industry, including the IPIC Women in IP Group (WING) and the AIPLA Women in IP networking events hosted across Canada. These organizations and events bring together women in legal and IP to connect, share and encourage one another. Together with these organizations, Smart & Biggar shares a common goal to inspire and empower women and recognize the tremendous contributions and achievements of women across fields of innovation, creativity, science, math, business, engineering and technology.
About Smart & Biggar
Smart & Biggar is Canada's largest firm practising exclusively in intellectual property and technology law, with offices in Ottawa, Toronto, Montréal, Vancouver and Calgary. We have been leaders in intellectual property and technology law for over a century.