‘About time’: women rule at top law firms
Two years ago, just one of Australia’s traditional big six law firms was being led by a woman. Today, four of the big six have female chief executives.
“About time,” says Virginia Briggs, who was appointed to lead MinterEllison in June 2021, succeeding the only female CEO at the time, Annette Kimmitt.
The other women to join Briggs in challenging what has historically been a boys club at the top of the legal profession, as of July, are Emma Covacevich of Clayton Utz, Renae Lattey at King & Wood Mallesons and Kristin Stammer at Herbert Smith Freehills.
‘Times have changed’: Law firm leaders Renae Lattey, of King & Wood Mallesons, Kristin Stammer, of Herbert Smith Freehills, and Emma Covacevich, of Clayton Utz. Renee Nowytarger
“Women have been 50 per cent or more of graduates since I was in law school; now we finally have proper gender diversity at all levels – including at the higher levels – of law firms,” Ms Briggs told The Australian Financial Review.
Ms Covacevich said there was “a very nice network of women managing partners”.
“It’s quite interesting that there are so many of us all at once,” she said. “Times have changed.”
The Minters board turned to Ms Briggs in the last week of June 2021, after Ms Kimmitt resigned. She had emailed staff with her regrets about the firm acting for then federal attorney-general Christian Porter after allegations of historic rape were aired on the ABC. The claims were strenuously denied by Mr Porter.
Five months later, Ms Lattey took over at KWM from Berkeley Cox.
In December 2022, the Clayton Utz board announced Ms Covacevich would replace Bruce Cooper as chief executive partner from July 1. A week later, HSF picked Ms Stammer to take over from Andrew Pike as executive partner
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