David is an active force in promoting D&I at A&O. In 2019, David established a Women in Intellectual Property initiative amongst partners and staff globally. The group, which David still sponsors, hosts events for women clients; runs CPE sessions with women-only speaker panels; encourages women to publish thought leadership; and promotes women’s achievements within and outside the firm. As a result, lawyers at Allen & Overy have felt empowered to take the spotlight and talk on topical IP issues in front of clients and peers. The group also runs a mentoring program connecting female lawyers across offices and seniority levels, which benefits not just the junior staff but also the mentors, who gain valuable experience and insights. David was also responsible for organizing a study of the language used in quotes for legal directories. With the findings he published guidance on avoiding gendered language when providing feedback on barristers, which is now used across the firm’s London Litigation department.
