BSN Black History Month 2023: Saluting our Sisters

INVITATION

The Black Solicitors Network is delighted to invite you to celebrate Black History Month on Thursday 19 October 2023 from 6pm at Squire Patton Boggs LLP, 60 London Wall, London, EC2M 5TQ.

The theme this year is “Saluting our Sisters” and we will be exploring sisterhood, what it means and how we can salute and support sisters both as fellow sisters and as allies. We will be hearing from a panel of distinguished female speakers; Juliet Alexander, Shaniah Bart, Kathy Bowman and Margaret Obi moderated by Sally Penni MBE.

Drinks and nibbles will be served on arrival and there will be an opportunity to enjoy authentic Caribbean food later in the evening. This a free event, but spaces are limited and require an RSVP.

We are grateful to Squire Patton Boggs LLP for their generosity.

PROGRAMME

SPEAKERS

Juliet Alexander - Journalist/ Education, Communication and Leadership Specialist, Juliet Alexander & Associates

Juliet is a pioneering journalist and broadcaster. Presenter of the UK’s first Black news and current affairs magazine television programme, Ebony launched on BBC TV in 1982. Juliet’s legacy will be marked at an event at the BFI celebrating Ebony and Black women in journalism and broadcasting on International Women’s Day 8th Mary 2023

Juliet has many years of experience working with a range of education and cultural charities. Which challenge stereotypes and champion diversity and inclusion.

Juliet also helps women monetize their side hustles and leads health and well-being walks. She has years of experience working with charities and is a board member of various organizations promoting diversity and inclusion.

Shaniah Bart - Head of Legal at the Law Society

Shaniah Bart is Head of Legal at the Law Society and Visiting Lecturer at the University of Law. After completing her Chemistry BSc at Kings College London, she went on to complete both the PGDL and LPC at BPP Law School. A solicitor-advocate with more than 17 years post qualification experience, she began her career as a litigator in private practice. Shaniah has been an in-house Solicitor for over 15 years and now specialises in negotiating and drafting commercial contracts and overseeing the Law Society’s strategic litigation.

In addition, she deals with intellectual property, data protection, and competition law matters all whilst managing a busy specialist legal team. As a visiting lecturer she teaches on the LLB, LPC and SQE courses.

Kathy Bowman–Williams - Global Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion at Squire Patton Boggs LLP

Kathy Bowman-Williams is the Global Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion at Squire Patton Boggs LLP. Kathy has two decades of experience leading global diversity and inclusion initiatives and leadership development programs for international organizations. Prior to joining Squire Patton Boggs, Kathy was the Director and Head of Diversity and Inclusion at Baker Botts LLP. Ms. Bowman previously served as Vice President and Regional Diversity Officer at Morgan Stanley, where she developed and oversaw the implementation of the financial company’s diversity initiatives. She also held various senior positions at Verizon that involved driving initiatives to support diversity, community investment, sustainability programs, and recruitment.

Kathy previously served on the New York City Bar Associations Diversity Pipeline Initiatives Committee and the Learning and Development committee for the Association for Law Firm Diversity Professionals (ALFDP). Most recently, Ms. Bowman was named to the 2019-2020 list of Who’s Who in America for her demonstrated outstanding achievements in her professional field and contributions to society as a whole. Kathy is the proud mother of two amazing college students Kennedy and Jonathan and lives in the New York City area.

Margaret Obi - Specialist Legal Consultant and Deputy High Court judge

Margaret’s professional background is as a criminal defence solicitor. She was a partner in a large legal aid practise until 2014, when she left to become an independent legal consultant. Margaret advised defence legal teams in war crimes cases at the International Criminal Court, various governments on issues relating to human rights and Legal 500 firms in cases involving serious fraud and terrorism offences. Margaret also has experience as an international arbitrator.

Earlier this year, Margaret was appointed as the first Service Police Complaints Commissioner who will oversee the new Service Police complaints process, whose function is to carry out investigations into the most serious allegations against the Service Police which brings the Service Police into line with their civilian counterparts.

MODERATOR 

Dr Sally Penni MBE – Barrister at Law

Outside of that role, Sally has authored numerous books (including the Amazon best seller “Rosie and the Unicorn” series and “Where are you from?” a Black British history book). Many of you will know Sally through her public speaking engagements, being a diversity leader.

Sally hosts a hugely popular weekly podcast called “Talking Law” which has now over 2.5million downloads and listeners from aspiring lawyers to those in business and commerce and she is also the founder of the Women in the Law UK, a professional development organisation focused on supporting the next generation of leaders in law and encouraging career progression through personal development.