In May 2023, White & Case held its Middle East Women's Conference at the Firm's Dubai office. The day-long event helped women lawyers and senior business services professionals from across the Middle East to build peer connections and foster career development opportunities.

This year's conference brought together more than 80 colleagues. For many attendees, the event provided the first opportunity to meet in person after significant virtual collaboration, develop new internal networks and engage in one-on-one conversations with the several White & Case global leaders in attendance.
Dubai partner Claire Matheson Kirton, who has led the Women's Initiative in the Middle East since it began in 2017, said that this year's discussions differed from those at past events, with a greater emphasis on candid conversations and practical problem-solving. 

During breakout sessions, participants shared their experiences with unconscious bias and discussed strategies to mitigate its impact. As one example, the attendees reaffirmed their commitment to being inclusive when staffing new matters. The small-group sessions also elicited an understanding that the "one size fits all" approach does not apply to career paths and provided an opportunity for the participants to offer suggestions on how the Firm can enhance its support for each colleague's unique skills and capabilities, regardless of personal or family circumstances. 

The group also acknowledged the value of gaining diverse perspectives, advice and inspiration from Middle Eastern women leaders outside White & Case. In the months that followed the conference, the Firm hosted a talk by the general counsel of a prominent company in the region. 

Debate Mate, a communications training agency, also led a masterclass titled "Power Through Authenticity" at the event. The professional development session helped attendees bolster their communication skills by identifying their authentic voice and building on their innate presentation skills.

Photo by © White & Case
Conference participants at White & Case's Dubai office