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Women@Blakes

Transcript

Women@Blakes is one of the Firm's greatest resources because it allows women to develop independent, successful practices.

One of the most important things that we've done as part of the group was our sponsorship and mentorship program for women associates. Being part of that has allowed me to give back to my mentees and to support women in their advancement at the Firm.

Investing in our recruitment and retention efforts is critical so that we can retain the best and the brightest and help them to succeed.

Being a woman and a mother comes with its own set of challenges, and being able to share those with colleagues sometimes helps find practical ways to deal with them.

When we have inclusion, it means we can bring our whole selves to work, and that means we can deliver the best service to our clients because we are our authentic selves.

For almost two decades, the Women@Blakes network has supported the recruitment, development and advancement of women in law — at Blakes, with our clients and across the broader legal and business communities.

Founded in 2007, Women@Blakes has grown into a national program offering robust programming at every career stage. Over the years, it has expanded to include leadership development, mentorship and community-building opportunities that empower and champion women, strengthen professional networks and make a meaningful impact across the profession and country. 

Our programs foster communities that champion and promote women leaders — at Blakes, in business and in the legal profession.

Stepping Up: Preparing to Be a GC

In 2014, in partnership with Women General Counsel Canada (WGCC), we established a leadership development program called Stepping Up. The program is dedicated to increasing the number of women general counsel in Canadian public and private companies, not-for-profit institutions, government entities and Canadian subsidiaries of multinationals.

Stepping Beyond: Future Opportunities

Introduced in 2018 in collaboration with WGCC, Stepping Beyond offers programs geared towards women GCs who want to position themselves for opportunities to expand or step beyond the GC role.

In-House Women Lawyers from Equity-Deserving Groups

The workshops and networking events bring together leading voices to explore the experiences of in-house women lawyers from equity-deserving groups. The workshops have included a number of inspiring women such as Michele Coleman Mayes, Former Chair of the American Bar Association’s Commission.

Annual Women’s Event

For over a decade, our flagship event has celebrated the voices of remarkable women thought leaders and trailblazers. By sharing their stories and perspectives , we aim to inspire others in their own leadership journeys. Past speakers have included musician Jann Arden, author Margaret Atwood, Olympian Hailey Wickenheiser, Wall Street banker, speaker and gospel singer Carla Harris, filmmaker Mira Nair, authors Claire Shipman and Brigid Schulte, and former Governor General of Canada Michaëlle Jean.  

Women GCs on Boards

Inspired by the belief that diversity enriches the conversation and decision-making at the board table, this program equips women GCs to position themselves for board service. Launched in 2017 in partnership with WGCC and Women Get on Board, it offers workshops, professional development and strategic guidance to support women GCs who aspire to serve on boards.   

The success of the program would not be possible without the support of the many directors who serve as program faculty and who offer ongoing support, introductions and resources as part of this invested community. 

In conjunction with the workshops, Blakes also publishes the Blakes Board Report, a cutting-edge, benchmarking study examining the progress of women GCs on boards.

To request a copy of this year's Board Report, click here.

ReLaunch Reintegration Program for Women Lawyers

In partnership with CIBC, Blakes established the ReLaunch program to support the reintegration of highly skilled women lawyers into the workforce following a career break of two or more years. ReLaunch provides participants with timely job experience at Blakes and within CIBC’s in-house legal department.. The program, a 10-month paid position, offers participants an opportunity to showcase their abilities in the workplace, while augmenting their experience, skills and contacts. 

Catalyst

Blakes is a Catalyst Supporter and previously was one of the first Canadian law firms to join the Catalyst Accord committing to increase the representation of women on our Executive Committee. Catalyst is a leading not-for-profit research and advocacy organization dedicated to expand opportunities for women in business and create more inclusive workplaces where everyone can thrive.

Rotman: Judy Project

Blakes is a founding sponsor of two leadership programs launched by the Rotman School of Management: The Judy Project, which supports women who as they enter executive leadership and C-suite roles within Canadian businesses and organizations, and in which Blakes continues to participate; and the Business Leadership for Women Lawyers program, a two-day intensive program supporting the career advancement of women lawyers to develop stronger leadership and business development skills as senior associates and new partners .  

Global Compact Network Canada

Blakes is the only Canadian law firm among  20 organizationsparticipating in Gender Equality Leadership in the Canadian Private Sector, a three-yearinitative led by Global Compact Network Canada 
to advance gender balance by engaging the Canadian private sector.
 
To learn more about our pro bono work for women’s initiatives, please visit our Pro Bono page. 

Key Contacts