Women in Law Hong Kong (WILHK)
Legal Speakers' Directory FY2021
Women in Law Hong Kong (WILHK) is calling on female legal professionals from firms, inhouse or consultants, of all ethnicities and backgrounds to sign up.
Research shows that many people in the legal industry feel that there is a lack of diversity amongst speakers in public events. Women and those with BAME backgrounds are particularly under represented with only [x]% of women in the legal industry having spoken at an event versus [x]% of men.
This directory aims to help close the gap in this public visibility by providing event organisers and media with a list of female lawyers and barristers and legal leaders and experts, from all ethnicities and backgrounds, who are open to public speaking opportunities. It is an initiative aimed at achieving gender balance amongst speakers at industry events and raising the visibilty of women in our industry. We proactively communicate with a range of conference organisers to promote our speakers and aim to lead by example with WILHK events. The directory is a free resource open to anyone to join.
Your details will be added to the FY2021 WILHK Legal Speakers' Directory and as such WILHK will share your contact details with conference organisers and organisations looking for female speakers at legal industry events.
This data is held in accordance with the "Personal Information Collection Statement". READ HERE.
Speakers
Tess Lumsdaine
Herbert Smith Freehills
Senior Consultant
she/her
Tess is an employment specialist, based in Hong Kong, who assists businesses with employee relations and labour issues across Asia Pacific.
Tess acts for clients in disputes and safety prosecutions and carries out employee investigations. She supports clients in managing multi-jurisdictional restructuring and governance projects, including those relating to diversity, inclusion and culture. She is a regular contributor in industry media including Inside HR and HR Director.Tess is qualified in Hong Kong and Australia and has lived and worked in Sydney, Santiago, Singapore and Hong Kong.
Topics of expertise:
Empowering Women, Pro-Bono, Diversity, Work-Life Balance, Other
Languages
English
Contact:
Janice Yau Garton
Stephenson Harwood
Partner
she/her
Janice is a partner at Stephenson Harwood and specialises in real estate transactions (both local and cross-border), acting for institutional investors, funds, hospitality groups, retail brands, property developers, family offices, private equity firms and REITs, in their investments into real estate across Asia.
Janice is qualified as a solicitor in Hong Kong and a solicitor and barrister in Ontario, Canada. Born in Vancouver, Janice was living in Australia before moving to Hong Kong in 2005 and was with DLA Piper for 15 years prior to joining Stephenson Harwood.
She is a mother of 3 small children.
Topics of expertise:
Empowering Women, Mentoring, Pro-Bono, Diversity, Work-Life Balance, Male ally, Other
Languages
English, Cantonese, French
Contact:
Brooke Holden
Karas LLP
Partner
she/her
Brooke is a dispute resolution specialist with experience representing clients in a broad range of complex, cross-border, commercial disputes. A substantial part of Brooke's practice involves applications for interim relief, including obtaining urgent injunctions and disclosure orders in the context of fraud and asset recovery. She also has significant cross-border enforcement experience including in relation to both court and arbitration proceedings.
Brooke regularly advises clients on claims arising from large corporate collapses, shareholder, joint venture and contractual disputes, including within the construction and infrastructure sectors. Her experience covers both litigation and arbitration, including ad hoc and administered arbitrations conducted under the procedural rules of various institutions.
Brooke is co-chair of WILHK (Women in Law Hong Kong), and is a passionate advocate for gender equity.
Topics of expertise:
Empowering Women, Mentoring, Pro-Bono, Diversity, Work-Life Balance, Arbitration Law
Languages
English
Contact:
Alison Tsai
Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group
Asia Pacific Legal Counsel
she/her
As regional counsel for Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group, Alison manages all legal issues pertaining to the Group in Asia Pacific to advance MOHG long term business objectives.
Alison chairs Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group's global diversity and inclusion council, and co-chairs Women in Law Hong Kong.
Alison is qualified in Hong Kong and New York.
Topics of expertise:
Empowering Women, Diversity, Work-Life Balance, Male ally, Generally In-house, Other
Languages
English, Mandarin, Cantonese, Korean (basic)
Contact:
Karah Howard
Pinsent Masons
Partner
she/her
Karah advises clients on complex infrastructure and construction projects in dispute, under various arbitral institutional rules including ICC, HKIAC and SIAC.
She is qualified in Western Australia, UK and HK.
Karah is mother to 3 daughters under 6 years old.
Topics of expertise:
Empowering Women, Mentoring, Diversity, Work-Life Balance, Arbitration Law, Other
Languages
English, Japanese, French (basic)
Contact: