Young ♀ Lawyers - Future Leaders in Law

Women make up more than half of would-be lawyers graduating from law school and while women are well represented in law firms - they make up over half of lawyers in law firms - the underrepresentation of women becomes more apparent at senior levels, and many leave the industry at Associate level. But retaining female talent is key to ensuring not simply diversity in law firms, but fresh perspectives, clearer thinking, innovation, collaboration, and trust as well.

Lawyers, law firms, businesses, and organisations need to open access to a wide and diverse pool of talent at entry level, and provide support, sponsorship, and working flexibility to remove the structural barriers that cause women lawyers to leave their professions before they are ready to do so.

The discussion will be based on personal experiences in the legal profession, looking at some of the most pressing issues faced by women in law today.

Guests arrival from 5.30pm to 6pm

6pm Introductions to Panel One

Chaired by , so far, we have confirmed

Future Leaders Panellists

- Double Paralympian and Solicitor Apprentice

- Law Student and Renewable Energy Engineer

- Law Student at University of Surrey

- Solicitor Apprentice at CMS UK

- Sustainability Regulatory Lawyer at EY Law

6.40pm to 7.10pm

Today's Leaders & Role Model Panellists

- CEO, Chair, NED, Strategy & Board Advisor and Consultant. Fiona is an Energy & Infrastructure specialist with over 20 years of experience encompassing nuclear, oil & gas, renewables and thermal power. She is often involved in large scale energy & infrastructure projects, particularly the development, structuring, international regulatory development and compliance, licensing and financing (most recently on the renewable energy project Atlantic SuperConnection). She is recognized as an expert in the development and financing of nuclear projects by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and has served as a designated expert on the financing, development and structuring of nuclear projects at special meetings of the IAEA. She has also served as an IAEA expert on decommissioning and waste management issues, chaired technical meetings, and sits on IAEA committees. She is also designated as Expert by the International Framework for Nuclear Energy Cooperation (IFNEC) and the International Project on Innovative Nuclear Reactors and Fuel Cycles (INPRO). Previously Fiona was Partner and Global Head of Nuclear Services at law firm Norton Rose Fulbright before moving away from the law to join PriceWaterhouse Coopers (PwC) as Global Nuclear Lead for Capital Projects and Infrastructure. She now has her own Energy Consultancy Practice FiRe Energy

- Joint Managing Director at Sizewell C. With over 15 years of experience advising infrastructure and energy projects around the world, Julia joined EDF Energy in July 2017 to focus on Hinkley Point C, Sizewell C, Bradwell B and the decommissioning of advanced gas-cooled reactors. Prior to her present role, Julia led a cross-practice team advising on power projects as Partner and Head of Power and Renewables for UK, US & Europe at Herbert Smith Freehills LLP, focusing on defence, nuclear decommissioning and transport projects. Julia is now working with Government to identify an innovative way for Sizewell C to be funded at best value to electricity consumers, and with potential investors.

- EY Global Sustainability Legal Services Leader; Partner, Law, Ernst & Young LLP. Michelle is qualified as a solicitor in England and Wales and as an attorney in New York. She is a Fulbright Scholar and a John Rankin Scholar with a first class LLB from UCL and an LLM from UC Berkeley. Michelle has been granted industry recognition including being listed as a leader in renewables by 'The Lawyer Hot 100 Lawyers’, being named Solar Woman of the Year for MENA by the Middle East Solar Industry Association (MESIA), being invited to the UK Government’s POWERful Women Group and named for the last 3 years as being one of the top 100 people in global wind power and one of the top women in global wind power by ‘A Word About Wind’. She is on the Advisory Boards of the Climate Bond Initiative and Dii and other key bodies and Chairs the REA Finance Group and Climate Change Committee Advisory Group.

- CEO of Obelisk Support | B Corp Certified and founder of the First 100 Years campaign. In 2018, she was voted Legal Personality of the Year. In 2019, she was awarded the Outstanding Achievement in Legal Services by the Legal 500. In 2020, she was recognised for her work as a women's advocate and champion of gender equality with the Special Contribution Award at the Women in Law Awards. Dana was shortlisted in the 2022 FT Innovative Lawyers Europe awards, and was awarded her second honorary doctorate in laws from the University of Glasgow in recognition for her contribution, achievements and positive impact on the legal profession in June 2022

- Head Of Legal Solar, Storage & Private Wire at EDF Renewables UK & Ireland. Previously, Carol held the position of Legal Director (London) with international law firm Bird & Bird in their Energy & Utilities sector group. In 2022, she was voted as one of the Top 40 Women Leaders in Energy Storage, by Energy Storage Report

- Partner, International Head of Sustainability and ESG
Global Co-Chair, Energy and Natural Resources Sector at DLA Piper Natasha has over 20 years' experience of helping a range of clients with renewable energy (with a particular focus on wind, solar and storage) and other energy transition projects in the UK and internationally. Natasha advises on developments, investments, financings, refinancings, acquisitions, disposals, and all the key project documentations (EPCs, O&Ms, service agreements and PPAs). She works with developers, contractors, equity investors, purchasers, sellers, utilities and off-takers in respect of the development, construction and operation of energy transition projects.

7.10pm to 7.30pm - Audience Q&A Session to all Panellists

7.30pm to 9pm - Drinks Reception, Networking & General Conviviality

Host or Publisher Women Powering Smart Energy