This International Women’s Day, we’re celebrating the achievements of women at Wilkin Chapman and showcasing how they’re breaking down the barriers that block gender equality.
This year, the International Women’s Day theme is ‘Accelerate Action’ which emphasises the importance of taking swift and decisive steps to achieve gender equality.
At the current rate of progress, it will take until 2158 to reach full gender parity, according to data from the World Economic Forum. To address this, people around the world are being urged to increase momentum and urgency in addressing the systemic barriers and biases that women face, both in personal and professional spheres.
The legal sector has made great progress in recent years when it comes to the gender split of the workforce, with women making up 53% of practising solicitors. However, women do still remain underrepresented in senior positions, making up only 32% of full-equity partners - so there are still many barriers to be broken down.
Let’s take a look at some of our individuals who are breaking down these barriers every day.
Victoria Quinn (pictured bottom left) is a partner in our dispute resolution department, leading a team of seven people in our Beverley office. She joined Wilkin Chapman in June 2024 and earlier this year was ranked in the top 100 legal influencers on LinkedIn for Q4 2024, being recognised for championing practical and creative solutions in property litigation.
She said: “My posts generally have a link to litigation and property litigation but I try to make them as personal as possible - it’s a given that lawyers know the law, people want to connect with people they resonate with. I take something from the platform on a daily basis for use within my role.
“It’s so important for women in the legal profession to make their voices heard. Traditionally, females drop off in numbers the higher up the career ladder you go, primarily due to family commitments, but this is changing. I’m fortunate to work at Wilkin Chapman, which is well-balanced in terms of males and females in senior positions. My female colleagues never fail to inspire me and I’m proud to work with them every day.
“I didn’t use LinkedIn until joining Wilkin Chapman but it has helped to raise my profile, not only locally but nationally. I hope that by making my own voice heard on LinkedIn, I’m encouraging other women to do the same - inspiring them to step forward and shape conversations. My advice for the next generation of female leaders in the industry is to make an impression in a clear, effective and respectful way and with some kindness. This way, the right message is heard, taken away and valued.
“If you work hard, play fair and treat people how you would like to be treated then you can’t go too far wrong, but always ensure that you respectfully challenge what you don’t think is right.”
Caroline Neadley (pictured top right) is a partner in our employment law department, leading a team of five people across our Grimsby and Beverley offices alongside her colleague, Katie Davies. She joined Wilkin Chapman in April 2024 and is a chair of Women in Business Hull, which supports, encourages and inspires decision-making women in the region.
She said: “Women in Business Hull has supported me greatly in my career journey - it’s contributed towards the successes I’ve achieved and I’ve made some lifelong friendships along the way. By being a chair of the organisation, I’ve had the incredible opportunity of providing other women in the region with support, sociability and enrichment for their careers, which is fundamental to provide a platform for women to achieve.
“When inspiring the next generation of women in business, I think role modelling is so important to show young women there is no ceiling to their careers. Allyship is also vital - women need to support other women by providing advice, guidance and a listening ear.
“I’m fortunate to work with lots of female role models who are all allies to me, inspiring and influencing me at work. We all support each other to be authentic, stay true to our values, be confident in ourselves and know that there’s no such thing as failure - it’s all an opportunity to learn and grow.”
Jennifer Cooke (pictured top left) is a partner in our real estate department, supervising our 16-strong housebuilder team across the Grimsby and Lincoln offices. She qualified as a solicitor in 2013 and became a partner just five years later, before joining Wilkin Chapman in 2023.
Jennifer has recently become a representative on the North East Lincolnshire Area Council of the Hull and Humber Chamber of Commerce, where she helps local businesses access information about locality and development.
She said: “The council is a forum made up of representatives from businesses across the region and we discuss how local and national interests affect local businesses. We discuss states of trades and what is going on in the local area, making representations to policy makers to promote interests of the Chamber members and businesses in the region. It’s a really good way to connect businesses and help them access important information.
“In my leadership role at Wilkin Chapman, I always try to be personable and approachable, so that team members always have the confidence to come to me for advice. When I qualified in 2013, I was inspired by one of my female colleagues at the time who taught me to always believe in myself and know that my hard work would pay off. She instilled the belief that I could do it and achieve whatever I wanted, and I hope that I can do the same thing and instil this belief in someone else.”
At Wilkin Chapman, we believe in fostering the next generation of female talent by providing young professionals with the opportunities and support they need to excel.
Ella Gray (pictured bottom right) joined the firm as an apprentice project assistant after realising that university wasn’t for her. Her course should have taken her 18 months but her strong work ethic meant she completed it in just over 14 months, whilst securing a distinction in her Business Administration Level 3 qualification.
Due to her quick progression and notable success, Ella was awarded Business Administration Apprentice of the Year at Grimsby Institute’s Apprenticeship Awards and has since been promoted to assistant project manager within our operational change team.
She said: “I was determined to complete my apprenticeship early so that I could begin my permanent role within the business. I was resilient in the respect that whenever I encountered an issue or set-back, I would always ask for help and use the experience to learn from and help my development.
“Being awarded Business Administration Apprentice of the Year was a very proud moment. I was recognised for achieving a distinction in all three elements of my apprenticeship and for my progression. It was highlighted that I had grown in confidence, due to having taken on more independent responsibility.
“My female colleagues were a great inspiration to me while I was completing my apprenticeship - their determination and professionalism within all aspects of work were a great influence. Now, I hope to progress within my project management career and develop my skills even further to work on an array of projects.”
The success and achievements of these women is testament to our commitment to breaking bias and overcoming stereotypes in the legal profession.
We’re working to accelerate action towards gender equality today and every day, championing women’s professional growth and inspiring them to create a world that’s diverse, equitable and inclusive.
