{"id":2994,"date":"2024-04-19T12:32:13","date_gmt":"2024-04-19T16:32:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/fitzwilliamstone.com\/?p=2994"},"modified":"2024-04-19T12:33:24","modified_gmt":"2024-04-19T16:33:24","slug":"a-fantastic-place-for-women-to-succeed","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/fitzwilliamstone.com\/?p=2994","title":{"rendered":"A Fantastic Place for Women to Succeed"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Fitzwilliam Stone is a hard taskmaster, but it\u2019s a fantastic place for women to succeed.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Olive Ramchand, former Senior Partner Fitzwilliam, Stone, Furness-Smith & Morgan<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In the Caribbean, women significantly outnumber men in the legal profession.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This is certainly not the case in the US or much of Western Europe where men still dominate. According to the UK\u2019s Ministry of Justice website, women constitute approximately 39 per cent of barristers and 53 per cent of solicitors. Despite the upward trajectory, it was noted that women accounted for just 24 per cent of the partners at the top 100 law firms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A cursory look at the websites of Trinidad and Tobago\u2019s top law firms, shows partnership is no longer the preserve of men. This is demonstrably so at Fitzwilliam, Stone, Furness-Smith &  Morgan where nine of the firm\u2019s 12 partners are women.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What makes Fitzwilliam Stone a \u201cfantastic place for women to succeed?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The women at this firm come from diverse backgrounds, and have taken different routes to their legal careers. The five women interviewed for this article all attribute their success at Fitzwilliam Stone to hard work, a progressive environment, the commitment to high standards and a successful culture of mentorship.  After meeting some of these women, it\u2019s not hard to understand why they enjoy working at the firm and why they succeed in law and in life. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cFitzwilliam Stone taught me to practice honourable law,\u201d said Olive Ramchand who became the firm\u2019s first female partner in 1992. \u201cI was so happy to work with Gerald Furness-Smith, who was one of the most honourable men I\u2019ve ever met.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There wasn\u2019t a formal mentorship progamme at Fitzwilliam Stone when Ramchand joined the firm, but she said the partners were all extremely supportive. In addition to Mr Furness-Smith, she acknowledged the role Sebastian Ventour and Danny Fitzwilliam played in her development.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ramchand retired from the firm in 2020, but she\u2019s still called upon for advice and consultation.  \u201cI\u2019m glad that I was able to stay here for my entire career. Fitzwilliam Stone demands long, hard work, but any profession you want to excel in would do that. It doesn\u2019t matter your gender, you just have to work hard.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Hard work is one of Vishma Jaisingh\u2019s core values. Growing up in Princes Town, her parents were her exemplars. Her father, a former Caroni worker also worked as a taxi driver to ensure his children had their school books, uniforms and everything they needed to get a proper education. Her mother, who she described as \u201can enterprising woman\u201d, opened a parlour at their home to supplement the family\u2019s income.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When Jaisingh joined the firm in 1999, Danny Fitzwilliam was her key mentor, she admired his \u201camazing\u201d work ethic which she said mirrored her father\u2019s. She described Fitzwilliam as \u201cthe most meticulous attorney\u201d explaining that he took nothing for granted. As someone who came to law from a sociology and research background, this was hugely inspirational.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Jaisingh also counts the firm\u2019s sensitivity and respect for personal values as one of the reasons she enjoys working there. A devoted Hindu, she is observant of all the faith\u2019s religious practices and takes time off to participate in religious events.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cEveryone knows I\u2019m not here on a Monday because I have certain religious commitments. I also appreciate when there\u2019s an event at the office, they always check to see whether if I\u2019m fasting and if I\u2019m not, they ensure I have a vegetarian meal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMy religion is a big part of my life and this firm has never discouraged that. I absolutely love working here.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Fitzwilliam Stone is also a place that encourages its people to express their passions. On my first visit to the firm\u2019s Sackville Street offices, I was struck by the pride of place given to work by some of the country\u2019s leading artists.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I was told that much of the art was provided by Fitzwilliam Stone\u2019s \u201cunofficial art curator\u201d, Senior Partner Tara Allum, a well-known supporter of the local art scene. Her love of beauty clearly serves to uplift the environment at the firm.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Allum who joined the firm in 1997, believes Fitzwilliam Stone provides an encouraging environment for young attorneys who are prepared to give. She also thinks the women who succeed show a certain amount of grit and self motivation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe women here are not shy or retiring. They tend to be able to hold their own but in a pleasant way,\u201d she said. \u201cThey also show they\u2019re up to the work by engaging more with the seniors and not simply waiting for someone to ask if they need help.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Cynetta Lai Leung quickly recognised assertiveness and a strong ethic were essential when she first worked at Fitzwilliam Stone during her in-service training.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhat was clear to me was the high level that was expected of any lawyer working here. We had a reputation for doing excellent work \u2013 servicing clients with the best advice, meeting client needs \u2013 so early o\u2019clock, I knew what how high the bar was.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She recounted one of her best memories \u2013 and a case of exemplary client service \u2013 which happened one Carnival Monday morning when a foreign client needed urgent advice.  Clearly, the fact that Port of Spain had been taken over by revellers and driving into the capital would be a nightmare didn\u2019t matter to the client. So, Lai Leung had to join now retired partner Mark Ramkerrysingh at his home to work on the case.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI was driving from my home in Diego Martin to Mark\u2019s home because we couldn\u2019t come to the firm,\u201d she said. \u201cSo I\u2019m driving over the hills in Maraval and when I got to the Paramin area and I was stopped by the boys playing blue devil and I said, \u2018fellas let me just give you some money because I have to hurry to get to work!\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Lai Leung is now the mother of an 11-year-old daughter and although she still works long hours, she is very intentional about how she shows up as a parent and the firm has given her the leeway to strike this balance. \u201cMy daughter is my WHY,\u201d she said. \u201cAnd what I do has to benefit her.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

After 20 years at the firm, Lai Leung is extremely happy to be playing a role in the Mentorship Programme which was officially implemented in 2010. Like her other senior colleagues, she acknowledged that it\u2019s not only the associates who benefit. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Tara Allum said the firm has always had an \u201copen door policy\u201d and the Mentorship Programme was formalising a part of the culture that was always present. The senior attorneys ostensibly believe they\u2019ve been stretched and in the process they\u2019ve learned more about themselves.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt can however, be a bit challenging if I have someone who\u2019s interested in another area and I don\u2019t feel as much to give in terms of expertise but I know I can give them support by checking in on how they\u2019re coping with their workload and dealing with other issues.\u201d Allum said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cBeing a mentor means opening up to someone and you can\u2019t have a relationship with a mentee who thinks you\u2019re intimidating,\u201d said Vishma Jaisingh. \u201cThere was a notion that I could be intimidating so I did some introspection. I\u2019ve developed an understanding with my current mentee and I share who I am with him.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Jaisingh appreciates mentorship as a holistic process. \u201cMentorship for me is not just about the work, I think that\u2019s secondary. Mentoring for me is about understanding what drives him, where he wants to get to and helping him along the journey.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Cynetta Lai Leung\u2019s unexpected benefit from being a mentor is the way it helped her to uplift her capacity to lead. \u201cAs a partner, you\u2019re now part of the leadership of the firm and to me, being involved in mentorship is a very crucial part of that. It\u2019s an opportunity to shape the future partners in the way they\u2019re going to think about their approach to work, the clients, and maintaining standards.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ten years ago, she was extremely excited at the prospect of working with her first mentee, Stephanie Moe, a fellow Hilarian who she described as \u201cpretty awesome\u201d. Lai Leung\u2019s pride was evident when she spoke about Moe\u2019s blossoming over the last ten years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In January 2024, Stephanie Moe became one of the firm\u2019s newest partners and swears by the effectiveness and impact of the mentorship programme.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt\u2019s important to be surrounded by strong women who are \u2018women minded\u2019 and once you are willing to put in the work, they support and give constructive criticism when necessary,\u201d Moe said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Moe who exudes confidence and maturity beyond her 35 years, seems to have hit the jackpot with strong women who\u2019ve been a part of shaping her life. From her mother Allison who is a source of constant support, to late cultural icon Pat Bishop who was an advisor during her during her performing years and late Senior Counsel Dana Seetahal who encouraged her early in her law career.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt\u2019s two-fold though, you don\u2019t just have these women who are willing to nurture your career, you also have to be able to absorb the knowledge and the pearls of wisdom.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She was a successful classical singer and a member of the Marionettes Chorale so working in an environment where there is a keen appreciation for art as well as her understanding of the creative sector were factors in the choice of her area of specialisation. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt was really because I was open to different areas of law. Again, I go back to the mentorship programme because I really got a lot of support from the partners here. This firm has really cultivated who I am as an attorney\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Franka Philip<\/em><\/strong> is a journalist and media consultant with local and international experience across the areas of print, online and radio.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Franka Philip<\/em><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

April 5, 2024<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Fitzwilliam Stone is a hard taskmaster, but it\u2019s a fantastic place for women to succeed.\u201d Olive Ramchand, former Senior Partner Fitzwilliam, Stone, Furness-Smith & Morgan In the Caribbean, women significantly outnumber men in the legal profession. This is certainly not the case in the US or much of Western Europe where men still dominate. According […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":2255,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":true,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[15],"class_list":["post-2994","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized","tag-trinidadtobago"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/fitzwilliamstone.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2994","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/fitzwilliamstone.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/fitzwilliamstone.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/fitzwilliamstone.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/fitzwilliamstone.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=2994"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/fitzwilliamstone.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2994\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2997,"href":"https:\/\/fitzwilliamstone.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2994\/revisions\/2997"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/fitzwilliamstone.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/2255"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/fitzwilliamstone.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=2994"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/fitzwilliamstone.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=2994"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/fitzwilliamstone.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=2994"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}