BigHand is sponsoring The Say Gap 2024, a unique two-day legal conference that brings together experts in, and discussion around, strategies to create a truly inclusive workplace environment.
The conference is on 29th and 30th October at EY Canary Wharf and provides an opportunity for law firms and corporate legal teams to develop a better understanding of how to not only talk about diversity, but create an environment in which it can thrive. Legal IT Insider has a number of exclusive event ticket offers available, including a discount for groups of two people or more. Contact anjana@cosmonauts.biz for more information, ask for LITI offer codes.
One of the ways that BigHand is helping to improve DE&I is through data. In 2022 it acquired Digitory Legal, which helps law firms to analyse their billing narratives.
Speaking to Legal IT Insider, Digitory’s founder Catherine Krow, who is now managing director of diversity and impact analytics at BigHand, and this year won Legalweek’s Champion in Diversity Award, said: “I’ve been very outspoken about using technology and data to focus not just on intentions but outcomes, and how to do that in ways that you can’t squirm out of.
“We use billing data for multiple purposes, the most obvious one of which is pricing and project management, but we can also use it to ask if we’re providing the same opportunities for similarly situated individuals. In order to achieve talent retention it’s important to use evidence to look behind the numbers and achieve consistency.
“The data shows that over 60% of early document work is done by females but going to court is largely done by men. It’s important to understand not just how much work is being done, but what kind and by who.”
BigHand’s chief marketing officer Briana McCrory added: “We have technology that is driving improvements, and we are champions of diversity internally, which is why we are sponsoring The Say Gap. If you are in a law firm and working hard you may not be getting the right work and there might be unconscious bias. It is so important to create awareness, and you need data to make sure you’re making the right decisions.”
To find out more about The Say Gap agenda see below or take a look at www.thesaygap.co.uk
What is in store?
Day One, 29 October
Join Claire Sanders, former general counsel at Huel and co-founder of Being Human Consulting Ltd, who will lead an active session on psychological safety and ways to foster creativity, inclusivity, and connection in the workplace.
We will be learning from a panel of industry pioneers: Sharon Thomas, founder & MD of Black Counsel Forum; Feargus M., co-founder & CSO at Definely; Janice D. Costa, legal ops manager at EMEA, Meta; and Jeffrey Shapiro, director of forensic and integrity services at EY.
An interactive learning session with Manu Kanwar and Denis Potemkin from LexSolutions will take us through practical steps for collaboration and innovative problem-solving to overcome racial diversity challenges with immediate action steps and long-term strategies.
Watch this space for one or two more speaker and sponsor announcements in the final countdown to the event.
Day Two, 30 October
Day two will see the return of the brilliant Sarah Lloyd Hughes from Ginger Leadership Communications, as we teach women how to tell stories for maximum business impact.
There is so much noise in the market right now, that it is easy for your voice to be lost. How do we communicate in a way that ensures our message is heard? We will be giving you strategies to ensure that your messaging is not only lost, but has maximum impact.
Register for your tickets here or contact anjana@cosmonauts.biz to see if there are any offers still available.