Justitia awards 2020 Justitia Awards 2020 | The Women In Law Initiative Justitia Awards 2020 | The Women In Law Initiative Editorial Table of Contents Ladies and Gentlemen, 04 Introducing The 15 Young achievers/ Welcome to the Justitia Awards cere thanks go to the Laureates 2020! The Women in Law Initia- Selection Committee for their di- Women In Law Game changers/ tive is proud to present the most ligent work. Now let’s celebrate outstanding women in legal pro- the best of the best in the three Initiative Pioneers Award fessions of the year. When we categories and the winner of the invited nominations about a year Special Award for Organizations. 04 Alix Frank-Thomasser 15 Christina Blacklaws ago, we did not expect to receive President of The Women in Law Initiative so many nominations from Please save the date for our 16 Michaela Clique Franz J. Heidinger around the globe, which intro- next International Conference 04 Omnia Gadalla duced us to the highest caliber on Contemporary Issues for Wo- Secretary-General of the Justitia Awards 17 of women in all legal profes- men in Law which will take place 18 Petra Smutny sions. It was hard to reduce the in Vienna from September 9-11, 05 Laureates' Selection Committee impressive nominations down to 2021. We look forward to welco- 19 Carmen Thornton shortlists in the three categories, ming you all to Vienna. and even more so to pick the 06 International Laureates of the year. Our sin- Yours truly, Leaders/ Lifetime 20 Organization Award Award 06 Brigitte Bierlein 20 EWLA 07 Christina Blacklaws 21 Dame Janet Gaymer Dr. Alix Frank-Thomasser Prof. Franz J. Heidinger Cherie Blair President of Women in Law Secretary General of the Justitia Awards 08 Kathleen Hlaleleni Dlepu Matolo 21 Rehana Khan Parker 09 22 About Us 10 Rosario Silva de la Puerta 22 WIL goes Academic Accompanying this magazine we created a library of videos of Follow our Youtube Channel the nominees. You can watch the videos if you click on the link www.youtube/WIL 11 Academia 23 Justitia Awards 2021 ! underneath the title on the corresponding page. Optionally, you Click this Link to the Video can also scan the QR-code. Ceremony Award 23 The WIL Conference 2021 23 Table of Sponsors 11 J. Jarpa Dawuni Ivana Krstic Legal Notice (Impressum) 12 This periodical has been edited by Verein Women in Law – Frauen im Recht, an NPO (association) pursuant to Austrian law, 13 Antonija Petričušić having its registered address at Schottengasse 10, A-1010 Wien, Austria. Personal responsibilty lies with the Association’s president, Dr. Alix Frank-Thomasser. All rights reserved. 14 Ilse Reiter-Zatloukal 2 3 Justitia Awards 2020 | The Women In Law Initiative Justitia Awards 2020 | The Women In Law Initiative Alix Frank-Thomasser Laureates' Selection president of The Women in Law Initiative Committee he Women in Law Initiative improve the situation for women in (WiL), based in Central Eu- the legal professions, and streng- Trope, is organized through then female leadership. We con- the Austrian NPO Women in Law nect not only practitioners, but also prof.in Dr.in Sonja Bydlinski, MBE – Frauen im Recht (an association researchers and scholars, from law Head of Department at the Ministry of Justice under Austrian law). I am Dr. Alix students to retired lawyers. The in- Lawyer for over 35 years, Master‘s Degree in Business Administration since 2012. Head Frank-Thomasser, attorney-at-law itiative has gained wide acceptance of the Unit for Business and Company Law at the Ministry of Justice since 1999. Honorary and president of WiL, which I foun- and operates under the patronage Professor at the Vienna University of Economics and Business since 2007. ded in 2018. Women in Law stri- of UNESCO. We are thankful for the ves to connect women (and male great support of our many sponsors The Second International Women allies) in all fields of law and offers and partners. in Law Conference will take place Dr.in Alix Frank-Thomasser them a platform to discuss current In March 2019, we hosted our in Vienna, Austria from September President of the Women in Law Initiative issues, learn from each other, and First International Conference in 9-11, 2021. Lawyer, author, and co-founder of Euréseau. Member of the Managing Board of the Vien- network across industry sectors Vienna, which was attended by With our Justitia Awards, we would nese Bar, Austria, and a member of the Austrian Delegation to the CCBE. Chair of the CCBE and borders. We endeavor to open distinguished participants and like to honor outstanding female CSR Committee. Holds the Golden Honor for services to the Republic of Austria. previously closed doors for women, speakers from all over the world. lawyers from around the globe. Dr.in Julia valsky Head of Group Diversity Management, Erste Group Bank AG Doctorate in sociology and graduated from the Diplomatic Academy Vienna and the London Franz J. Heidinger School of Economics. Former spokeswoman for the Minister of Women’s Affairs and former Secretary-General of the Justitia Awards chief of staff in the Federal Ministry of Education and the Austrian Mission to the OECD in Paris. butions to society. The nominee is resulting in opportunities for Wo- Timothy Wilson, oBE “the” outstanding woman of the men in Law or a young legal pro- Chief Executive MSI Global Alliance year, demonstrating excellence as fessional, who has shattered the the most innovative and ground- glass ceiling in her field. This in- Former director of an international charity. Served in the British Army for 27 years. He was breaking lifetime achiever. cludes new ways of working when appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) for leadership in Iraq and is 2. Academia “business as usual” has failed and a member of Her Majesty’s Body Guard of The Honourable Corps of Gentlemen at Arms. The nominee should have made a innovative “out-of-the-box” so- significant impact, delivered qua- lutions have succeeded. She has Dr. rupert Wolff litatively and/or quantitatively demonstrated innovation in terms President of the Austrian Bar (ÖRAK) measurable tangible results relati- of the topics covered; the metho- Lawyer, certified court interpreter for the Italian language. More than 30 years of expe- he Justitia Awards honor ve to the invested resources, and dology employed; the channels rience in the legal field and is practicing law in Austria and Italy. From 1992 until 2011, out-standing female laure- influenced demonstrable changes used to create opportunities; and/ he was a member of the Austrian delegation to CCBE. President of the Austrian Bar since ates of all legal professions in attitudes, beliefs, and practices or other aspects. T 2011. Holds the Grand Honor for services to the Republic of Austria. in one of three categories: towards gender equality in legal- 1. International Leaders | Lifetime professions. The Justitia Laureates’ Selection Award 3. Young Achievers | Game Chan- Committee has reviewed each no- Dr.in raffaela Zillner LL.M. This category celebrates the most gers | Pioneers mination for the Justitia Awards, Board member Juristenverband talented and impactful women in The nominee is a game-changer shortlisted the finalists, and selec- Lawyer, Master‘s in Information Law and Media Law. Currently working as general secreta- the legal professions, and recogni- who has had an impact on the pro- ted the laureates of the categories ry at the Austrian Association for Betting and Gambling. Member of the Austrian Lawyer’s zes their achievements and contri- motion of innovative approaches for the Justitia Awards 2020. Association Committee, where she stands up for gender equality in various legal industries. 4 5 Justitia Awards 2020 | The Women In Law Initiative | Category 1 Justitia Awards 2020 | The Women In Law InitiativeCategory | 1 Christina Blacklaws inspiring women in the business world with her passion and commitment “The Women in Law Click this link to view video: www.womeninlaw.info "I feel immensely ho- Brigitte Bierlein Initiative is a network nored to be shortlisted ormer President of The Law Christina was President of the Law Making history as the first female of empowerment and to be part of this Society of England & Wales. Society of England and Wales un- great movement.“ Chancellor of Austria that will enable us to FRuns her own consultancy til July 2019, and performed a vast achieve everything we business “Blacklaws Consulting”. range of ambassadorial and repre- want.” Award-winning published author, sentative functions both domesti- global survey on the issue, two Click this link to view video: www.womeninlaw.info speaker, lecturer, and frequent cally and internationally. toolkits which supported over 250 media commentator. She is passionate about diversity roundtables in 19 jurisdictions and r. Brigitte Bierlein was born joined the Senior Public Prose- 2001 to 2004, she was a member Christina Blacklaws studied Juris- and inclusion, technology, and ac- led to 3 insight reports and a Wo- in Vienna on June 25, 1949, cutors’ office of Vienna and in of the executive board of the In- prudence at Oxford and qualified cess to justice and uses every op- men in Law Pledge which was sup- Dand attended school there. 1987, she joined the Department ternational Association of Public as a solicitor in 1991. She has de- portunity to advocate and progress ported by the government and all In 1967 she took her school-lea- for Criminal Law at the Federal Prosecutors (IAP). veloped and managed law firms, positive change in these areas. legal representative bodies. ving examination at the High Ministry of Justice before return- including a virtual law firm, and Christina represents the Women School in Vienna’s third district ing to the Senior Public Prose- Brigitte Bierlein held the office of set up the first ABS with the Co-op.