Press Release - New Perimeter partners with NGO Women Lawyers Joining Hands and the Nepal Bar Association to provide continuing legal education to female Nepali lawyers

New Perimeter, DLA Piper’s nonprofit affiliate that provides long-term pro bono legal assistance in under-served regions around the world, partnered with Canadian NGO Women Lawyers Joining Hands (WLJH) and the Nepal Bar Associationto provide continuing legal education to female lawyers in Kathmandu, Nepal.

The partnership is part of a broader initiative developed by WLJH to support female lawyers in Nepal by providing mentorship, ongoing training and financial support to increase their skills and opportunities for advancement particularly in the corporate commercial field.

In December 2015, DLA Piper lawyers worked with female Nepali lawyers as part of a six-day preliminary workshop, five days of which included a practical course on legal ethics, business ethics, and corporate and commercial law. The workshop also included a session on challenges unique to female lawyers in Nepal. Canadian law firm Symes Street & Millard, and the United Nations Development Programme also provided support for the project.

“We are honored to participate in this project, which aims to create a critical mass of female leaders and empowers them to participate in and influence law reform,” said Lisa Dewey, Director of New Perimeter. “Through our efforts in Nepal, we are supporting women’s empowerment and building the capacity for access to justice throughout the country.”

“Feedback from the thirty women attending this training affirmed WLJH’s goal to build confidence, skills and opportunities for women lawyers in Nepal,” said Sheri Meyerhoffer Co-Founder and Chair of WLJH. “Particularly satisfying was witnessing the development of relationships and support networks among the participants over the six day training.”

“The partnership with Women Lawyers Joining Hands and the opportunity to work with DLA Piper lawyers from Australia, Europe and the United States is greatly valued,” said Sunil Pokharel, Secretary General of the Nepal Bar Association. “We are proud to have provided an opportunity to advance our female members and believe that this experience will ultimately benefit our entire members.”

Women Lawyers Joining Hands is a Canadian charitable organization whose mission is to educate, train, coach and mentor female lawyers in Nepal and provide them with scholarships, bursaries, awards and other forms of financial assistance.

The members of DLA Piper’s New Perimeter team included: Sophie Devitt (Brisbane), Dr. Kirsten Girnth (Frankfurt), and Katie Jahnke-Dale (Chicago). In addition, Claire Donse  (Paris), International Pro Bono Counsel, led and managed the project.

---

About DLA Piper

DLA Piper is a global law firm with lawyers located in more than 40 countries throughout the Americas, Europe, the Middle East, Africa and Asia Pacific, positioning us to help clients with their legal needs around the world. In certain jurisdictions, this information may be considered attorney advertising.

About New Perimeter

New Perimeter is a nonprofit organization established by global law firm DLA Piper to provide pro bono legal assistance in under-served regions around the world to support access to justice, social and economic development and sound legal institutions. Founded in 2005 as a result of our firm’s commitment to support legal advancement worldwide, New Perimeter’s vision is to harness the skills and talents DLA Piper lawyers to further a more just world for all.

Contacts

Josh Epstein, Media Relations, DLA Piper, T. 212.776.3838