Transatlantic law firm, Womble Bond Dickinson (WBD), creates campaign to support and encourage women in science, technology, engineering and manufacturing (STEM), resulting in short listings for individual and team awards at the prestigious Yorkshire Legal Awards 2018.
Prominent local figure and Partner in WBD's Real Estate team, Paula Dillon, has been shortlisted for the Yorkshire Lawyer of the Year Award, whilst the Intellectual Property (IP) team, led by Patrick Cantrill, has been shortlisted for the Intellectual Property Award.
As the first female President of Leeds Chamber of Commerce, Paula has championed equality and diversity, in particular women in STEM. Her leadership as the firm's Head of Diversity & Inclusion (D&I) programme culminated in WBD recently being awarded the Law Society Gold standard for D&I, and she has made a substantial impact on the local legal market with her work to open the profession to non-graduates through the Legal Apprenticeship Scheme WBD's Women in STEM campaign was launched by Paula earlier this year.
To support the campaign, WBD's Leeds-based IP team launched its series of freely accessible video animations, also marking 2018's World IP Day theme: 'Powering Change: Women in innovation and creativity'. Rose Smalley, an Associate in the IP team, spearheaded the project, with contributions from team members Amy Galloway, Tim Barber and Rachel Hearson, to create the 'Transatlantic Top Tips' videos which explain the importance of registered intellectual property, and support and encourage all innovators and creators to identify and protect their rights.
Mark Owen, Partner and Head of the Leeds office, comments:
"Paula and our renowned IP team have enthusiastically embraced WBD's women in STEM campaign to give particular recognition to the many achievements of women who have made important contributions to our everyday lives. We'll be at New Dock Hall on 11 October to support Paula and the IP team, and hopefully see them receive the Awards."
Paula adds:
"Gender equality begins by recognising and highlighting the successes of women in industries like STEM. Our campaign celebrates women who have made significant contributions to the world, through their innovations and creations, with the aim of inspiring women to become the inventors of tomorrow and redressing the general underrepresentation of women seeking protection for their intellectual property. "
