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In 2015, The Lawyer wrote: “eight candidates for two top roles at Allen & Overy, and not one woman. For a law firm committed to that 30 per cent target, it’s not a good look.”

Fast-forward to 2026 and, as The Lawyer wrote last week, just one female partner included on A&O Shearman’s refreshed board of six has left many “disappointed” with the outcome.

This is not a problem unique to A&O, with female representation low at a number of big firms.

And yet, a generation of female leaders are coming to the fore in many law firms.

So, on the latest episode of the podcast, we discuss why there is still such an issue at A&O Shearman, and across the law more generally, but also which firms and leaders are making a change.