Women in Business

Freehills’ Women in Business networking forum was established in 1994 by Stephanie Pursley, former partner, after she attended the Women's Trade Forum in Singapore.

Since then, the network has grown to over 1000 women in business, who represent industries as diverse as banking, telecommunications, retail, publishing, government, law and the judiciary.

Women in Business aims to foster networks among women at all stages in their professional careers, by providing:

• opportunities for senior business women from diverse organisations and industries to meet one another and exchange views and experiences
• a comfortable environment for women who are up-and-coming in their field to meet senior women in business, and
• opportunities for Freehills women partners and solicitors to meet women clients of the firm.

Freehills' Women in Business forum hosts seminars, workshops and entertainment functions and facilitates networking through one-to-one introductions.

Nicole Bamforth, Director, Information & Technology
Priscilla Bryans, Partner, Corporate
Louise Capon, Partner, Corporate
Melanie Cave, Partner, Banking & Projects
Sarrah Coffey, Partner, Banking & Projects
Michelle Cole, Partner, Litigation
Melita Cottrell, Partner, Banking & Projects
Julie Couch, Partner, Banking & Projects
Joanne Crew, Partner, Banking & Projects
Celia Davies, Partner, Litigation
Emma de Carle, Partner, Banking & Projects
Frances Drummond, Partner, Litigation
Sarah Dunn, Partner, Litigation
Kathryn Everett, Partner, Litigation
Michelle Fox, Partner, Litigation
Fiona Gardiner-Hill, Partner, Corporate
Sue Gilchrist, Partner, Litigation
Natalie Gullifer, Partner, Corporate
Wendy Gwyn, Partner, Banking & Projects
Erica Hartley, Partner, Employee Relations
Jane Hodder, Partner, Banking & Projects
Kate Jenkins, Partner, Employee Relations
Sarah Kenny, Partner, Corporate
Selina Lightfoot, Partner, Corporate
Bronwyn Lincoln, Partner, Litigation
Rebecca Maslen-Stannage, Partner, Corporate
Lucy McCullagh, Partner, Banking & Projects
Hayley Neilson, Partner, Banking & Projects
Leanne Norman, Partner, Litigation
Fiona Smedley, Partner, Corporate
Kristin Stammer, Partner, Corporate
Philippa Stone, Partner, Corporate
Anna Sutherland, Partner, Litigation
Lesley Sutton, Partner, Banking & Projects
Justine Turnbull, Partner, Employee Relations
Gemey Visscher, Partner, Banking & Projects
Erin Wakelin, Partner, Banking & Projects
Juliana Warner, Partner, Litigation
Nicola Yeomans, Partner, Corporate
Irene Zeitler, Partner, Corporate

Freehills was probably the first major Australian law firm to establish a Women in Business networking forum. The firm's vision has since inspired the formation of similar groups throughout the legal and other industries across Australia, such as the International Women's Insolvency and Reconstruction Confederation and the Urban Development Institute of Australia (UDIA) Women in Development Committee.

We have been a sponsor of Australian Women Lawyers (AWL) since its launch in 1997, providing funding, furniture and office equipment and secretarial support. AWL's focus is on women as members of the legal profession as well as women as consumers of legal services. The firm has also been a sponsor of Victorian Women Lawyers. We assist with the publication of the AWL and Western Australian Women Lawyers newsletters.

Freehills is proud of its continued involvement in women lawyers groups around Australia and encourages its solicitors to actively participate in women lawyers committees and events.

In Victoria, for example, Freehills hosts luncheons in the Melbourne office through its Women's Executive Lunch Series, and supports Women in Business events such as the Australian Financial Review Women of Influence luncheons, Telstra Businesswoman of the Year, Victorian Women's Trust and Women in Philanthropy. The firm has also done pro bono work for organisations supporting women such as the Victorian Women's Trust and the Women's Information and Referral Exchange Inc.