---

Leading international law firm Clifford Chance is celebrating International Women's Day 2021 with a month-long campaign of online events and initiatives that champion equality and celebrate advocates for gender parity across the firm

Clifford Chance has been a longstanding advocate for women lawyers. The firm's hallmark publication highlighting the professional journeys and diverse pathways of its women lawyers, Advice To My Younger Self: Reflections of Successful Women Lawyers was relaunched for International Women's Day last year.

This year's IWD campaign will run for four weeks, providing sufficient airtime for an abundance of exciting activities happening across the network. The firm's offices across the world are joining together to be part of the International Women's Day #ChooseToChallenge campaign, which affirms that "a challenged world is an alert world, and from challenge comes change". #ChooseToChallenge aims to remind us that individually, everyone can actively choose to challenge stereotypes, fight bias, broaden perceptions, improve situations and celebrate women's achievements to help create a gender equal world.  

IWD in the Americas

"This month offers us all a chance to recognize the achievements of women, acknowledge the intersection of race and gender, mark the progress we have made towards equality, and reflect on the work that still needs to be done," Evan Cohen, Americas Regional Managing Partner, explains. "As a firm, we must continue to choose to challenge the status quo."  

The firm's Americas offices kicked off the month with a Leaders Who Challenge interview series, profiling women from the New York, Washington D.C., and São Paulo offices who have embodied the #ChoosetoChallenge theme by uplifting their colleagues and working to advance equality and inclusion in the workplace, exemplifying what it means to be a leader. The campaign continues with a "Choose to Challenge" video series, which encourages women and men across the Americas and globally to share pictures and videos of themselves explaining how they #ChoosetoChallenge gender inequality or bias and seek out and celebrate women's achievements. Colleagues are encouraged to post photos of themselves striking the #ChooseToChallenge pose on a community Yammer page and share how they #ChooseToChallenge for a more gender equal world – anything from encouraging more gender-aware conversations with family or friends, boosting visibility as a male ally, subscribing to a new podcast series for a fresh perspective, or simply challenging themselves and each other to celebrate the little successes that over time make a difference.

Virtual Events

The month of programming also includes a series of online events that will enable colleagues to connect and celebrate virtually. On International Women's Day, Clifford Chance and the Association of Corporate Counsel's New York chapter are hosting Choose To Challenge: Wellbeing, an interactive panel addressing women's health, nutrition, mental health and self-care. Later that week, the Women's Subcommittee of the firm's Americas Diversity Committee will host a book club to discuss the book Invisible Women: Exposing Data Bias In A World Designed For Men by Carline Criado-Perez. Towards the end of March, the firm will also host an event called Advancing Women in the Americas to conclude the firmwide celebration of International Women's Month. Additionally, a global International Women's Day event hosted by Asia Pacific Regional Managing Partner Connie Heng is open to clients and colleagues across the world. This event will highlight and celebrate some of the work being undertaken by advocates from across the firm as together they work to make equality a reality. 

Shout Outs

Globally, Clifford Chance's Shout Out initiative also recognizes and celebrates inspirational people at the firm's offices around the world. Employees are encouraged to anonymously "shout out" colleagues they admire for speaking up and choosing to challenge in a time of uncertainty. The Shout Outs remind everyone that actions matter and help to demonstrate the collective power individuals have in creating and strengthening an inclusive culture at the firm. 

With these events and opportunities for involvement, Clifford Chance employees can join together to celebrate one another and the stand-out efforts of people across the firm. "Even though we're working remotely, we can still connect, collaborate and recognize the progress that has been made within the firm and the broader legal community," Cohen says. You can learn more about the firm's IWD activities here.