Equity, diversity and inclusion (EDI) is a priority at Lawson Lundell. Our firm should reflect the communities we serve, and in which we do business. We believe all people who work at Lawson should feel a sense of belonging and pride; have access to fair opportunities; and share our values of teamwork, mutual support, respect, and commitment to excellent client service.
At Lawson, the EDI mandate is lawyer-led. In early 2023, Julia Winters, a partner in the Asia Pacific Group, was appointed Chief Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Officer, a role previously held by our firm’s managing partner. Julia chairs a six-person committee comprised of five partners and one associate, which represents different practice groups, backgrounds, and offices. As of September 2023, those committee members are:
The EDI committee has undertaken a broad range of actions, initiatives and events that advance equity, diversity and inclusion at our firm through the following pathways:
- Talent identification, recruitment and retention
- Mentorship and sponsorship
- Education and awareness
- Allocation of work and opportunities
- Empowerment and community
Below is a selection of EDI initiatives, events and activities undertaken at Lawson in 2024:
- Put on two all-firm training sessions on our firm’s bullying and harassment policy, in recognition of Pink Shirt Day
- Circulated all-firm weekly emails profiling a celebrated Black Canadian with prize draws for books by Black authors, performances written, choreographed, performed by or about Black artists, and gift cards to Black-owned businesses in each city in which we have an office, as part of our Black History Month programming
- Held a happy hour event for all women in the firm to get together in each of our offices to celebrate International Women’s Day
- Shared food in each of our offices to celebrate various cultural days of significance, including Nowruz, Eid-ul-Fitr, and Vaisakhi, and recognized other days of significance with all-firm communications, including for Holi, Passover and Ramadan
- Participated as Dinner Sponsor for South Asian Bar Association BC’s Women’s Day event
- Made a donation to the Downtown Eastside Women’s Centre in Vancouver in recognition of Red Dress Day / National Missing & Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls and Two-Spirit People (MMIWG2S) Awareness Day
- Participated as Silver Sponsor for South Asian Bar Association Calgary’s Annual Gala
- Hosted retired Justice Randall Wong to give a talk on his 40+ years on the bench including at the Supreme Court of British Columbia, in recognition of Asian Heritage Month
- Participated as Champion Sponsor for QMUNITY’s annual IDAHOBIT breakfast in recognition of International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia and Transphobia
- In recognition of National Indigenous Peoples Day, invited celebrated Inuit storyteller and children’s book author Michael Kusugak to share his experience growing up in Naujaat (Repulse Bay), Nunavut and his family’s cultural practices
- Organized a potluck in each office to celebrate the diversity of our workforce at Lawson in recognition of Canadian Multiculturalism Day
Below is a selection of EDI initiatives, events and activities undertaken at Lawson in 2023:
- Held unconscious bias training for Lawson’s Vancouver and Kelowna recruitment committee members
- Invited the then-president of Canadian Association of Black Lawyers to give a talk entitled “Toward a More Equitable, Diverse and Inclusive Profession: Some Food for Thought on the Role of Law Firms” during Black History Month
- Sponsored two associates to participate in a leadership development program for Asian Canadian lawyers
“The sessions have left me hopeful for the future, recognizing that our ceilings, once broken through, could serve as the foundation for the next generation of leaders. It meant a lot to me to be able to participate in this enriching and eye-opening experience.” – Jessica Chung, Associate
- Organized a panel discussion of female partners at Lawson on career journeys for International Women’s Day
“The International Women’s Day Panel was particularly meaningful to me personally. Having the opportunity to hear the panelists share their often extremely relatable challenges as young women in private practice, and how they overcame them to achieve such career success, was inspirational.” – Lisa Frey, Associate
- Attended Darpan Magazine’s Power Women of Influence Gala 2023
- All Star Sponsor of RBC JCC Sports Dinner hosted by the Jewish Community Centre of Greater Vancouver
- Attended annual South Asian Bar Association Gala 2023 in Calgary
- Champion sponsor of QMUNITY’s International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia Breakfast
“It was a privilege to be invited to this year’s IDAHOT breakfast. Knowing my firm supports organizations like QMUNITY, who do so much for my community, makes me proud to work here.” – Drew McMillan, Office Services Supervisor
- Hosted watercolour painting workshops led by an indigenous artist for lawyers and law students for National Indigenous Peoples Day
- Hosted annual Lawson Pride BBQ in Vancouver, and participated in Pride events in Kelowna, Calgary and Yellowknife
“Proudly celebrating love and acceptance with all in the Pride parade.” – Alice Chen, Paralegal
- Hosted firm-wide event in recognition of National Day for Truth and Reconciliation with a guest speaker
- Recognized and celebrated various cultural events and holidays through internal firm-wide communications, including Nowruz, Vaisakhi, Eid, Ramadan and Lunar New Year
