Accelerating Action at Boodle Hatfield on International Women's Day 2025
This International Women’s Day, Boodle Hatfield is proud to show our support for and celebration of such an important global event.
As a firm, we believe it is crucial to raise awareness of this occasion and give it the attention it truly deserves. The shocking facts and figures released by the International Women’s Day website highlight how much work remains to be done—not just in our industry but across society as a whole—to ‘Accelerate Action‘ on this often-overlooked issue.
We are proud, as a firm, to have implemented numerous initiatives over the years to further our efforts towards equity and inclusion. Having had two consecutive female Senior Partners, Sara Maccallum and currently Andrea Zavos, we take pride in being one of the few firms to take such significant action to promote female leadership. Not only has the percentage of female Partners in the top 20 UK law firms increased from 20% to over 40% today, but the sense of acceptance and belonging has had a positive impact on the legal industry in recent years. The introduction of our gender-neutral parental leave policy has made a profound difference to the members of Boodle Hatfield. Hearing positive feedback about the ability to share the responsibilities of such a time-consuming and demanding role was a delight, affirming that the firm is taking steps in the right direction. Combined with the impressive efforts of the ED&I Committee this year on equality, we remain committed to striving for improvement and excellence in this important area of discussion and to continuing to pioneer positive change within the legal industry.
The specific theme for this year is #AccelerateAction, and we asked colleagues across Boodle Hatfield—both male and female—what this truly means to them. Collectively, they shared their thoughts on areas where we can improve and what they are currently proud of regarding the progress we have already made as a firm to strive for a future of equity and inclusion.
Andrea Zavos, Senior Partner
“I’m glad to see that this year’s theme is ‘Accelerate Action’ as I believe that we as a firm hold ourselves to this with our efforts around equity and inclusion. Sharing the generational burden of maternity leave with men after our implementation of the gender-neutral parental leave policy has been a positive step for accelerating action in the legal industry. Personally, it’s rewarding to see mothers at the firm enjoy flexibility in their workweek when home life becomes particularly demanding – an invaluable benefit of being at Boodle Hatfield. Moving forward, I hope we continue to improve upon our efforts more and more each day to ensure that we are pioneers in #AcceleratingAction.”
Listen to Andrea’s sound bite here
Brian Aris, Chief Operating Officer
“Gender equality in law is not just a goal – it’s a necessity. At Boodle Hatfield, we’re proud to have had two consecutive female Senior Partners and to have over 40% female representation in our Partnership. We know that supporting women means more than representation; it’s about creating an environment where they can thrive. Our enhanced parental leave policy and flexible working options are just some of the ways we’re breaking down barriers and challenging outdated perceptions of success in law. But progress requires more than policies, it requires open conversations. Women need to feel heard, supported, and empowered to speak about their challenges. Leaders must listen, learn, and take action.”
Listen to Brian’s sound bite here
Laura Cullinane, Private Wealth Senior Associate
“Balancing the early days of parenthood with work, especially returning to work, comes with real challenges which should not be underestimated. However, having a supportive firm that offers flexibility for parents to carry out their role, whether offering remote working or part-time options, must be crucial to allow working parents to balance work with home life. In my experience, the flexibility of being able to work part-time, returning to albeit a busy job, help me to balance my work with also spending time with my young children.”
Listen to Laura’s sound bite here
Stephanie Brownings, Business Development Manager
“So for me, accelerating action for women in and out of the legal sector means challenging outdated biases, amplifying diverse voices, and ensuring that talent – not gender defines success. Having worked in several law firms over the last decade, I have experienced the subtle ways that gender can shape workplace interactions, but I have also been very lucky to work with many inspiring women and, increasingly, women in leadership. So I’m particularly proud to work at Boodle Hatfield where the last two Senior Partners have been women and there is truly a culture of allowing everyone to show up authentically and be celebrated for our diversity. On a broader scale, there is inevitably progress being made but true change – and accelerated action – happens when we not only celebrate the women breaking barriers, but also commit to making the workplace more inclusive at every level.”
Listen to Steph’s sound bite here
William Rollin, Family Partner
“The legal profession has a generally equitable representation of women at junior levels – law students, trainees, newly qualified solicitors. However, representation usually becomes incrementally less equitable amongst senior associates, partners and equity partners. As a (relatively) new joiner to Boodle Hatfield, I am proud to be a member of a firm which has achieved very near parity of female and male equity partners. The fact that this is a very rare and genuinely remarkable differentiator amongst law firms shows how far the profession still has to travel. We should reflect on that – whilst we give credit to those who established the culture we now enjoy. Our differentiation from competitor firms should also be a spur to encourage us (men and women equally) to think creatively – at all levels across the firm – how we can maintain and even accelerate momentum to achieve a truly equitable workplace.”
Lauren Henderson, HR Advisor
“Gender equality isn’t just a goal—it’s a commitment we actively uphold. From our gender-neutral parental leave policy to nearly half of our Equity Partners being women, we are dedicated to fostering real equity in the legal industry. But we know challenges still exist. Imposter syndrome, major life transitions, and unconscious biases can hold women back. That’s why we focus on mentorship, flexible working, and training to create an environment where everyone can thrive. The legal industry has made great strides in diversity and inclusion, but accelerating action means ensuring that fairness and opportunity aren’t just goals—they’re the standard.”
Listen to Lauren’s sound bite here
Sarah Rock, Construction Partner
“One of the things I’m really proud about at Boodle Hatfield is that we have an almost 50/50 split within the partnership of male and female. I think that’s really rare in the legal industry and it’s definitely a big change from when I started. I think that’s really great and another thing I think we do really well at Boodle Hatfield is the gender-neutral parental policy. This is going to make it more commonplace for men to take time out from their careers for parental leave, not just placing that responsibility on women and historically, that responsibility has been placed solely on women and I think it’s helped women back with their careers. So, I think it’s great that we’re offering that opportunity for everybody to get involved in parenting.”
“I think that unconscious biases do exist both within law and within construction. As a female working in both of those industries I do face them all the time, which can be a bit exhausting. Assumptions can be made about how I will behave or react in certain scenarios just because I’m female. And I tend to approach these with as much patience as I can muster and hope that my actions speak louder than my words. As EDI partner at Boodle Hatfield, I do try to lead by example, and hopefully that is starting to help to accelerate action.”
Listen to Sarah’s sound bites here
Oliver Johnson, Construction Senior Associate
“Keeping on a positive note, I have seen the legal industry progress and evolve in the years that I have been involved and great steps have been taken, particularly at Boodle Hatfield. However, this year’s theme of ‘Accelerate Action’ really resonates with me considering the statistics on how far we are from reaching true equality in our society at our current rate of progression. As an industry, we seem to be taking hopeful steps forward, but there is always much more that can be done to help women in the workplace.”
Pam Kalha, Legal PA Team Leader
“It is a pleasure to work alongside so many strong and inspirational woman who I have seen juggle their work and personal lives and still manage to be at the top of their field. The firm’s hybrid working policy and gender-neutral parental leave is a step in the right direction as it gives a healthier and more balanced approach in creating opportunities and achieving so much more.”
Holly Taylor, Business Development Executive
“In an age where there is unfortunately still a disparity with women working in the legal industry, Boodle Hatfield continues to defy this by continuously creating a hugely supportive working environment for women. I am continuously guided by the firm’s female workforce to step outside my comfort zone and be the best that I can be, knowing that I can have confidence progressing forward in my career and take on new challenges.”
Andrea Zavos, Senior Partner
“I’m glad to see that this year’s theme is ‘Accelerate Action’ as I believe that we as a firm hold ourselves to this with our efforts around equity and inclusion. Sharing the generational burden of maternity leave with men after our implementation of the gender-neutral parental leave policy has been a positive step for accelerating action in the legal industry. Personally, it’s rewarding to see mothers at the firm enjoy flexibility in their workweek when home life becomes particularly demanding – an invaluable benefit of being at Boodle Hatfield. Moving forward, I hope we continue to improve upon our efforts more and more each day to ensure that we are pioneers in #AcceleratingAction.”
Listen to Andrea’s sound bite here
Brian Aris, Chief Operating Officer
“Gender equality in law is not just a goal – it’s a necessity. At Boodle Hatfield, we’re proud to have had two consecutive female Senior Partners and to have over 40% female representation in our Partnership. We know that supporting women means more than representation; it’s about creating an environment where they can thrive. Our enhanced parental leave policy and flexible working options are just some of the ways we’re breaking down barriers and challenging outdated perceptions of success in law. But progress requires more than policies, it requires open conversations. Women need to feel heard, supported, and empowered to speak about their challenges. Leaders must listen, learn, and take action.”
Listen to Brian’s sound bite here
Laura Cullinane, Private Wealth Senior Associate
“Balancing the early days of parenthood with work, especially returning to work, comes with real challenges which should not be underestimated. However, having a supportive firm that offers flexibility for parents to carry out their role, whether offering remote working or part-time options, must be crucial to allow working parents to balance work with home life. In my experience, the flexibility of being able to work part-time, returning to albeit a busy job, help me to balance my work with also spending time with my young children.”
Listen to Laura’s sound bite here
Stephanie Brownings, Business Development Manager
“So for me, accelerating action for women in and out of the legal sector means challenging outdated biases, amplifying diverse voices, and ensuring that talent – not gender defines success. Having worked in several law firms over the last decade, I have experienced the subtle ways that gender can shape workplace interactions, but I have also been very lucky to work with many inspiring women and, increasingly, women in leadership. So I’m particularly proud to work at Boodle Hatfield where the last two Senior Partners have been women and there is truly a culture of allowing everyone to show up authentically and be celebrated for our diversity. On a broader scale, there is inevitably progress being made but true change – and accelerated action – happens when we not only celebrate the women breaking barriers, but also commit to making the workplace more inclusive at every level.”
Listen to Steph’s sound bite here
William Rollin, Family Partner
“The legal profession has a generally equitable representation of women at junior levels – law students, trainees, newly qualified solicitors. However, representation usually becomes incrementally less equitable amongst senior associates, partners and equity partners. As a (relatively) new joiner to Boodle Hatfield, I am proud to be a member of a firm which has achieved very near parity of female and male equity partners. The fact that this is a very rare and genuinely remarkable differentiator amongst law firms shows how far the profession still has to travel. We should reflect on that – whilst we give credit to those who established the culture we now enjoy. Our differentiation from competitor firms should also be a spur to encourage us (men and women equally) to think creatively – at all levels across the firm – how we can maintain and even accelerate momentum to achieve a truly equitable workplace.”
Lauren Henderson, HR Advisor
“Gender equality isn’t just a goal—it’s a commitment we actively uphold. From our gender-neutral parental leave policy to nearly half of our Equity Partners being women, we are dedicated to fostering real equity in the legal industry. But we know challenges still exist. Imposter syndrome, major life transitions, and unconscious biases can hold women back. That’s why we focus on mentorship, flexible working, and training to create an environment where everyone can thrive. The legal industry has made great strides in diversity and inclusion, but accelerating action means ensuring that fairness and opportunity aren’t just goals—they’re the standard.”
Listen to Lauren’s sound bite here
Sarah Rock, Construction Partner
“One of the things I’m really proud about at Boodle Hatfield is that we have an almost 50/50 split within the partnership of male and female. I think that’s really rare in the legal industry and it’s definitely a big change from when I started. I think that’s really great and another thing I think we do really well at Boodle Hatfield is the gender-neutral parental policy. This is going to make it more commonplace for men to take time out from their careers for parental leave, not just placing that responsibility on women and historically, that responsibility has been placed solely on women and I think it’s helped women back with their careers. So, I think it’s great that we’re offering that opportunity for everybody to get involved in parenting.”
“I think that unconscious biases do exist both within law and within construction. As a female working in both of those industries I do face them all the time, which can be a bit exhausting. Assumptions can be made about how I will behave or react in certain scenarios just because I’m female. And I tend to approach these with as much patience as I can muster and hope that my actions speak louder than my words. As EDI partner at Boodle Hatfield, I do try to lead by example, and hopefully that is starting to help to accelerate action.”
Listen to Sarah’s sound bites here
Oliver Johnson, Construction Senior Associate
“Keeping on a positive note, I have seen the legal industry progress and evolve in the years that I have been involved and great steps have been taken, particularly at Boodle Hatfield. However, this year’s theme of ‘Accelerate Action’ really resonates with me considering the statistics on how far we are from reaching true equality in our society at our current rate of progression. As an industry, we seem to be taking hopeful steps forward, but there is always much more that can be done to help women in the workplace.”
Pam Kalha, Legal PA Team Leader
“It is a pleasure to work alongside so many strong and inspirational woman who I have seen juggle their work and personal lives and still manage to be at the top of their field. The firm’s hybrid working policy and gender-neutral parental leave is a step in the right direction as it gives a healthier and more balanced approach in creating opportunities and achieving so much more.”
Holly Taylor, Business Development Executive
“In an age where there is unfortunately still a disparity with women working in the legal industry, Boodle Hatfield continues to defy this by continuously creating a hugely supportive working environment for women. I am continuously guided by the firm’s female workforce to step outside my comfort zone and be the best that I can be, knowing that I can have confidence progressing forward in my career and take on new challenges.”
