International Women’s Day 2023 Spotlight

A Q&A with recent Dechert lateral women partners Judith Seddon, Kathleen (Kate) Mylod and Nicole Macarchuk.

The theme of 2023’s International Women’s Day is “embrace equity”, aiming to get the world talking about why equal opportunities aren’t enough. Equality means each individual or group is given the same resources or opportunities, whereas equity recognizes that each person has different circumstances, and allocates the exact resources and opportunities needed to reach an equal outcome. We sat down with three Dechert women partners who have joined in the past year, to get their perspectives on embracing equity and their experiences at the firm so far.

In your experience, what challenges exist to achieving equity in the legal sector?

Kate: The challenge exists of embracing flexible ways to encourage and enable women to achieve success both professionally (i.e. on the job) and personally (i.e. at home/outside of work). This challenge is not unique to private practice, or the legal sector generally.

Judith: The principal challenges remain the age-old challenges – in particular ensuring that, regardless of personal circumstances, women are given the same opportunities as men in the work they do and in their career progression.

What steps do you feel could be taken to increase equity for women in the industry?

Kate: For both the legal and the commercial real estate industries, many steps can be taken to increase equity for women. Two in particular that I am keen on are:

1.  Allowing for flexible, creative, practical work options for everyone (not just women). As lawyers, we are service providers selling our intellect and our time. We can do that at any time of day, and from nearly any location. While the default rule for an organization may be to be present in the office (and I am a big proponent of being in office!), allowing for practical variations of remote/hybrid status and part-time flex enables attorneys and other professionals to adapt to where they are in their personal, familial and professional lives, as those lives shift over time. And, if everyone is able to partake of this practical flexibility, then doing so is less stigmatized for one group when compared to others.
   
2. Encouraging and supporting both mentorship and sponsorship for women at all levels – new entrants to the industry, rising leaders, and established leaders. That mentorship and sponsorship should not come solely from women, but a mixture of women and men (and women should be mentoring and sponsoring men, too).
   

Judith: We have already come a long way by clients exerting pressure on law firms to put forward diverse legal teams. However, I think the time has come to translate some of that pressure into concrete requirements so that there is a real business incentive for law firms to ensure women are integral to the client offering.

Nicole: Be an advocate for yourself and for other women, and continue to have open communication regarding obstacles for equity and how to overcome them.

Since joining Dechert, what efforts taken by the firm to improve equity have made you most proud?

Kate: I had left and then rejoined Dechert, with a six-year gap. While I was off on my “long vacation” at another firm, Dechert continued to evolve and solidify its commitment to equity for women and equity for diverse attorneys. Upon my return, I was pleasantly surprised to learn of the growth of programs like the Global Women’s Initiative and Sponsorship and Sustained Support (SASS), as well as the commitment from firm leadership to diversify our attorney base across all levels and our diversity, equity and inclusion programming. Dechert’s dedication to these and related initiatives goes deeper than periodic email updates, pretty pictures on the website and boxes checked; this dedication becomes integrated into our daily discourse and is one of the aims of our stewardship. I see that commitment every day, from our senior leadership to our newest team members.

Judith: I think the SASS project is a particularly valuable initiative to demystify the partnership process for women senior associates and equip them to enter the process ready and well-prepared.

Can you share a piece of advice you received in your career that would be helpful to other women?

Kate: A woman leader in the commercial real estate industry shared this quote with me the other day, and I’ve been thinking about a great deal as International Women’s Day approaches – “Equality is giving everyone a shoe, but equity is giving everyone a shoe that fits”. I am going to keep that mindset at the forefront as I cultivate my relationships, continue my growth, and encourage the growth of others.

Judith: Be visible, say yes to opportunities. And always be better prepared than anyone else in the room.

Nicole: Actively seek out mentors and sponsors within, and outside of, the firm. I've been fortunate to have a village of mentors and sponsors at various stages of my career, each of whom have been vital to my professional and personal growth, and have led to business development opportunities as well.

How will you celebrate International Women’s Day?

Kate: I am very fortunate to be celebrating with our rising Dechert women as one of the panelists at this year’s SASS gathering in Barcelona. While in Barcelona, I will be “zooming back” into the States to participate in a virtual fireside chat with four leading women in the commercial real estate space as part of an International Women’s Day event hosted by Trepp, Inc. I have no doubt it will be a memorable day!

Judith: With my daughters.

Nicole: Listening to Dechert’s #Embrace Equity Conversation with Chelsea Clinton and planning dinner with my daughter Ashley at Atelier Crenn, a woman-founded restaurant in San Francisco. Dominique Crenn is one of the only women chefs in the U.S. to earn three Michelin stars for her restaurant.