Celebrating International Women's Day: why Ogier's workplace works for women

In this article, hear directly from six women at Ogier as they explain why our workplace works for them.

And not only why it works, but why it helps women to pursue personal goals, spend more time with their families, adapt to life's challenging circumstances and thrive in their professional roles.

When we asked several women in the business whether they would be happy to contribute, we were overwhelmed – and almost inundated – with thoughtful responses. Their testimonies below explore how the business has given them the flexibility needed to successfully balance their work and home life and fulfil their potential in the workplace.

Alessia Zammataro

Assistant Business Development Manager, Jersey

Being a working mum can be a rewarding yet challenging experience and having the support of a firm that embraces flexible working is invaluable. I have now been on maternity leave twice and was fortunate to have the firm's support in adjusting my working hours to accommodate my new family commitments. I currently work 8am until 2pm each day, with a further hour in the evening (usually when the kids have gone to bed). This flexibility has allowed me to balance my professional responsibilities with family commitments, ensuring I'm present for important moments at home while still progressing in my career.

The hybrid working model at Ogier provides further flexibility. It enables me to take control of my schedule by choosing when to work from the office or remotely. This is particularly helpful when the children are unwell, allowing me to attend to their needs while continuing my work from home.

Being a mother while also striving to advance in my career is incredibly important to me, and I am grateful to Ogier for their unwavering support in helping me balance these two crucial aspects of my life.

Kirtee Gunness

Manager, Ogier Global, Dubai

Last August, while I was on vacation, I was diagnosed with Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS), a neurological disorder where the body's immune system attacks the peripheral nervous system. I was admitted to a local hospital but within a few days, I was completely paralysed from head to toe. Because my medical situation kept deteriorating, I had to be evacuated by air rescue back to Dubai. I was bedridden for months and even had to undergo a tracheostomy as my lungs collapsed and I was unable to eat and breathe on my own.

I really appreciated Ogier's help in this very difficult time for me and my family. Their enduring flexibility and support really helped put my mind at ease and allowed me to focus on my recovery, and I'm not confident that other firms would have done that. They went above and beyond for me and did everything in their power to help me navigate this challenging and unexpected time. I am very thankful to be working for a company like Ogier and for all the support from my colleagues who took time to visit me in the hospital. It meant a lot to be surrounded by people who cared about me and my recovery, especially as I went through months of physical rehabilitation.

Yuki Yan

Partner, Hong Kong

As a woman who has been part of the Ogier family for almost nine years and recently had the privilege of being promoted to partner, I have always felt supported and valued here. Ogier's commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion is a fundamental part of our culture, fostering an environment where everyone can thrive.

Being a member of Ogier's DEI Steering Group has given me the chance to actively contribute to initiatives that promote gender equality and empower women at all levels of their careers. I've seen how these efforts translate into tangible support for women, from flexible working arrangements to leadership training programmes. It is a place where everyone is encouraged to bring their authentic selves to work and achieve their fullest potential. In the week of this International Women's Day, I am proud to celebrate the achievements of women across our firm and beyond.

Tiffany Tolliss

Managing Associate, BVI

Ogier offers a supportive and inclusive environment that accommodates both professional ambitions and personal commitments, making it a great place to work when you are seeking a fulfilling and balanced career. When I returned from maternity leave, I was assigned a maternity buddy who played a crucial role in my transition back to full-time work. Their support provided me with a much-needed listening ear while I was navigating the juggle of my new (and ever-changing!) responsibilities. Ogier's flexible working arrangements also allow me to work from home or the office, ensuring that I can meet my family's (and my own) needs without compromising my career.

My recent promotion to managing associate just a year after returning from maternity leave is a testament to Ogier's commitment to recognising and nurturing talent. As a leading member of our DEI committee, CSR committee and internal Family Network, I also actively contribute to the firm's vibrant community through the organisation of various initiatives and events. These roles have provided me with opportunities to create positive ripples within the firm and the wider BVI community.

Monique Adams

Managing Director, Ogier Global, BVI

Over the past seven years at Ogier, I have experienced remarkable support that has been instrumental in the further development of my career. Having begun my career in the industry some 30 years ago, I have met a variety of challenges in terms of progression, despite being suitably qualified and able to take on more senior positions. Ogier's commitment to empowering individuals from diverse backgrounds has enabled my continuous professional growth.

Their support was pivotal when I decided to pursue my MBA from the University of London in 2022, a challenging feat while working full-time. Ogier's flexible working arrangements greatly assisted me in balancing work commitments with childcare and academic responsibilities, allowing me to excel professionally and personally. Ogier's dedication to DEI initiatives has fostered an environment where I feel valued and empowered, despite previous setbacks in the industry.

Rachael Reynolds KC

Global Senior Partner, Cayman Islands

When I was coming through the firm into partnership, there were very few senior women around me and it felt quite lonely at times. As a mum of two small children and suffering from imposter syndrome, I found there were issues I experienced that the older male partners didn't seem to be experiencing. I saw a number of women leave the legal profession as they decided that being a partner at an international firm wasn't possible for them as mothers.

Ogier's Senior Women's Round Table (SWRT) was founded to create a safe space where women coming through into management and leadership positions within the firm could learn from and share experiences with each other, and find a way to balance work and other competing demands. More importantly, we wanted to find ways to make the path a little clearer and smoother for those coming through behind us. The aim is to make sure that women navigating career progression, whether as carers or mothers, or those dealing with issues such as infertility, peri / menopause, insecurity or the plethora of other things than can hold us back, were supported and empowered.

We also established the Ogier Women's Circle (OWC), which now has more than 200 members across our global network, to ensure all women in the firm would have a forum where they could seek out mentors, share their experiences and feel supported.

We are proud to be one of the first international law firms to publish an annual Gender Pay Gap report covering all our jurisdictions across the world, and our fourth edition in 2024 showed a 3% reduction in the median gender pay gap on the previous year. Our DEI Charter and benchmarking are vitally important to me and I want Ogier to be a place where women feel they can fulfil their full potential.

What Ogier believes

At Ogier, we believe in putting people first: for who they are and everything they bring. Supporting them with all they need for equal opportunity. Our clients and our people demand it. It delivers a better working environment, relationships and outcomes. For us, embracing difference should simply be fundamental to business and society as a whole.

If these women's stories resonated with you, or this is the kind of ethos you're looking for in an employer, then visit our careers page to find out about the roles we're hiring for all across the business. See more on our careers pages.

About Ogier

Ogier is a professional services firm with the knowledge and expertise to handle the most demanding and complex transactions and provide expert, efficient and cost-effective services to all our clients. We regularly win awards for the quality of our client service, our work and our people.

Disclaimer

This client briefing has been prepared for clients and professional associates of Ogier. The information and expressions of opinion which it contains are not intended to be a comprehensive study or to provide legal advice and should not be treated as a substitute for specific advice concerning individual situations.

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