New Perimeter, DLA Piper’s nonprofit affiliate that provides long-term pro bono legal assistance in under-served regions around the world, partnered for the second time with Canadian NGO Women Lawyers Joining Hands (WLJH) and the Nepal Bar Association to provide continuing legal education to female Nepali lawyers.
The six-day training, held March 26-31 in Kathmandu, Nepal, expanded upon a workshop held in December 2015 for 30 female Nepali lawyers on legal ethics, business ethics and corporate and commercial law. Alongside lawyers from the Nepal Bar Association, lawyers from seven DLA Piper offices provided training on the same topics to a new group of 30 women lawyers in Nepal. The team also provided advanced training on intellectual property and technology and international arbitration to the 30 women lawyers that participated in 2015.
“Our team was excited for the opportunity to return to Nepal and continue working with this group of talented lawyers,” said Lisa Dewey, director of New Perimeter. “It has been an honor to collaborate with our partner groups to provide training, support and mentorship to help build the legal skills of female lawyers in Nepal as they advance in their careers.”
“The energy and enthusiasm of the participants was amazing,” said Andrew Valentine, partner in DLA Piper’s Silicon Valley office and one of the New Perimeter trainers. “On top of actively engaging in each session, the women used every available minute to network and plan for the future. As Nepal adopts a new constitution, these women are poised to make a real difference.”
Saroj K. Ghimire, member secretary of the Nepal Bar Association’s Coordinating Committee and one of the trainers, added: "This was the biggest event of its kind in Nepal, in which 60 women lawyers had the benefit and opportunity to discuss, interact and network with lawyers from one of largest law firms in the world. We look forward to continuing our relationship in the days ahead."
The training is part of a larger initiative developed by WLJH to provide female lawyers in Nepal with mentorship, ongoing training and financial support to increase their skills and opportunities for advancement, particularly in the corporate commercial field.
In addition to Valentine, the DLA Piper team that traveled to Nepal to participate in the trainings included partners Kristin Franceschi (Baltimore), Timothy Lohse (Silicon Valley), Anne Pachciarek (Chicago) and Jenifer Smith (Austin); of counsel Ardith Bronson (Miami); solicitor Sarah Mellowes (Sydney); and associate Karen Fellowes (Calgary). Pro bono counsel Suzanna Brickman (Silicon Valley) managed the project, and of counsel Stacy Taylor (Seattle) and Krantz Fellow Olga Slobodyanyuk (Silicon Valley), assisted in preparation of training materials.
About DLA Piper (www.dlapiper.com)
DLA Piper is a global law firm with lawyers located in more than 40 countries throughout the Americas, Europe, the Middle East, Africa and Asia Pacific, positioning us to help clients with their legal needs around the world. In certain jurisdictions, this information may be considered attorney advertising.
About New Perimeter (www.newperimeter.com)
New Perimeter is a nonprofit organization established by global law firm DLA Piper to provide long-term pro bono legal assistance in under-served regions around the world to support access to justice, social and economic development, and sound legal institutions. Founded in 2005, New Perimeter’s vision is to harness the skills and talents of DLA Piper’s lawyers to further a more just world for all.
