Despite being exceptional advocates for our clients, women lawyers often find it challenging to promote themselves. This reluctance can stem from imposter syndrome, fear of backlash, lack of role models, or biased work environment that stereotypes women. These challenges contribute to professional inequities, impacting salary and bonus negotiations, client opportunities, and broader industry prospects. Self-advocacy is imperative in mitigating these professional inequities.  

At this event we will hear personal accounts from speakers as they present tips on identifying professional inequities, challenging them and closing the confidence gap when advocating for our career growth. We will explore lessons in building self-confidence, effectively putting yourself out there and creating a robust support system that helps you to ‘Claim your Space’. This session will be followed by a Q&A portion that will allow attendees to share their own experiences. 

Reflect on your own journey ahead of this event and to share tips and lessons learned. Feel free to provide questions you have for the speakers to our Co-Chairs Laesha Smith at lsmith@peslitigation.com and Michelle Wong at michelle.wong@mcmillan.ca.

Speaker Biographies

Diane Bell K.C.
Diane is a Partner in the Mediation & Arbitration group as well as Co-Chair of the Family Law group at Clark Wilson. As a mediator, Diane helps clients overcome legal challenges in a fair and efficient manner. She manages emotions and expectations, and, by engaging in an active risk analysis, she helps to achieve the best possible outcome for all parties. Although approximately 80% of Diane’s time is now devoted to mediation, she has maintained a small, restricted family law practice. Having practiced family law for over 35 years and as a result of doing many commercial and other non-family law mediation work, she has garnered a broad skillset, which includes a solid understanding of tax issues, complex business structures, corporate reorganizations, off-shore investments, trust law, estates and pensions.

Lisa Andersen
As the Director, Legal Talent and Knowledge Management at Singleton Reynolds, Lisa oversees student and lateral recruitment as well as associate development. Working with the Professional Services Committee, she is responsible for the mentorship program, internal continuing education, and associate performance reviews. Prior to joining Singleton, Lisa practiced law for several years at a Vancouver firm with a focus on insurance coverage, professional liability, and municipal liability. She has also provided knowledge management and legal research services to firms and organizations across the city.

Michaela Krell
Michaela is the National Director and head of the Vancouver office of Life After Law, a national
recruitment firm dedicated to placing legal professionals in corporate counsel, quasi-legal, private practice and
executive Roles. Michaela was born in Vancouver, but spent formative years of her life on the east coast. She
completed her undergraduate degree in psychology at McGill University. During her undergraduate studies, she
completed a semester abroad where a friend suggested she pursue a career in law.

After returning to Canada, she obtained her law degree from Osgoode Hall. She is called to the Bar in Ontario and
New York. Michaela joined the Life After Law’s Toronto office in 2010 and moved back to her hometown of
Vancouver in 2013. She boasts a wide Canadian and international network, and also has a diverse range of clients in a variety of industries including: real estate, finance, emerging companies and crown corporations. When she isn’t working, Michaela is a mom of three and loves anything active.

Moderator Biography

Catherine Ewasiuk Catherine Ewasiuk is an associate in the Restructuring, Insolvency and Bankruptcy group at Dentons, Vancouver. Catherine represents both institutional and private lenders in foreclosure and insolvency proceedings and appears regularly in court. Originally from Edmonton, Catherine moved to British Columbia in 2016 to pursue a Masters in Law at the University of British Columbia. She was called to the Bar in British Columbia in 2019.

Catherine is a past Chair of the Women Lawyers Forum CBABC Branch.