Detailed Agenda

Please watch the Summit Recording to hear our brilliant panelists share their insights about key developments, how inclusivity is good for businesses and why continuous dialogue is necessary to increase disability diversity and facilitate the change that will have a lasting impact.

LEADRS 10 year Anniversary

This year also marks the 10-year anniversary of the Reed Smith diversity inclusion group, LEADRS. We celebrated this milestone by reflecting on the societal progress in DEI over the last decade and recognized the contribution of individuals and organizations that have helped nurture and progress inclusive thinking.

Congratulations to our Rising Star Award winners Vibhu Sharma, Rachel Amos, Danielle Liebl and our Hero’s Award recipients Paul Wilden, Stuart Pixley, Jane Burton.

Insights and quotes:

“I just wish more firms could be like you, I do think it is spreading though with the work of legally disabled.” - Jane Burton, Chair, Lawyers with Disabilities Division of the Law Society of England and Wales

“You asked us right from the start what we should be doing, and I think that made a real change and a real difference.” - Jane Burton, Chair, Lawyers with Disabilities Division of the Law Society of England and Wales

“You’ve heard me mention many times that I focus on the ability in disability, and I can’t say that was my idea, that came from the SPNOD.”- Paul Wilden, Global Head of Capital Markets - Corporate Solutions, Apex Group Ltd.

“In order to achieve disability inclusion which is a precondition to upholding human rights and achieving sustainable development, it is essential to listen to people with disabilities because they are the bests representatives of their circumstances and needs, and that’s the reason, why each time I am a panelist at the Reed Smith events, I feel that the disability inclusion agenda is only going onwards and upwards because we listen to people with disabilities, and we don’t only listen to them, we also practice what we listen.”- Vibhu Sharma, Disability & Inclusion Research Consultant, Theirworld

“We have great big goals, enormous plans for global domination, in terms of putting together a great big data set that means that we’ll prove that inclusivity is good business.”- Rachel Amos, Director & Trustee, Support Send Kids 

“We hope that you enjoyed our third annual disability summit and that you each have information you can take away and put into practice to help with your disability inclusion efforts.”- Joanne Christopher, Human Resources Manager, Reed Smith

“One of the things that we’ve seen over the last 10 years is it’s great to see so many younger people really pushing hard to do better and make the work places of the future as inclusive as they can be going forward.” - Carolyn Pepper, Partner and Co-Chair of the Disability Business Inclusion Group, Reed Smith

“We have to make sure that our environments and culture are the very best they can be in order to support our colleagues with disabilities along their career journeys and to allow everyone to achieve their career aspirations and achieve what their capable of and what they want to achieve.” - Carolyn Pepper, Partner and Co-Chair of the Disability Business Inclusion Group, Reed Smith

“It’s said that the digital accessibility problems of today are the mainstream breakthroughs of tomorrow.”- Steven Agnoli, Chief IT, Reed Smith

“Diversity, equity, and inclusion have to be hardwired into everything we do, and particularly ESG.” - David Boutcher, Partner, Reed Smith

“Making sure diversity, equity, and inclusion are enshrined within ESG helps attain true sustainability.” - David Boutcher, Partner, Reed Smith

“Disability inclusion is not charity or philanthropy. It is a powerful tool to create lasting value in companies and society.” - David Boutcher, Partner, Reed Smith

“When I came into the profession I didn’t think about being part of any DEI groups. All I wanted was to be was a lawyer and nothing else. However, now when I think about it, it’s because of the work of DEI groups like LEADERS that people like me have careers and can think about achievements, ambitions and the future. I felt a sense of responsibility and understood the fact that you’re more than just a lawyer, you’re more than what you do in your day job, you have a voice and what you do with the platform you are given can have a lasting legacy beyond your own professional success.”- Vaibhav Adlakha, Associate, Reed Smith

“Disability is about all of us, we can all acquire a disability.”- Charles Catherine, Director of Corporate & Government Relations, National Organization on Disability

“That challenge to just be myself was probably doubled because how do I be myself and still be part of what everybody else looks like.”- Carole Mehigan, Business Manager, Reed Smith

“This whole topic and discussion shouldn’t be something we have to have on a regular basis. It should just be a natural thing everybody has accepted wherever their diverse backgrounds may be or whoever they are.”- Carole Mehigan, Business Manager, Reed Smith

“I don’t think I would be where I am without DE&I and the connections you make.”- Danielle Liebl, Associate Corporate Counsel, Amazon Web Services

“I think absolutely the spirit of collaboration goes beyond disability and there is great strength to be found in the parallels of both the disability community and other potentially marginalized groups within business and beyond.”- Phyllida Swift, Chief Executive Officer, Face Equality International

“Although I was born with a condition, a condition that I have lived with all my life and I’ve learned to adapt to, I was also born with something else other than the condition. I was also born with a label, and that label came the moment that I came into this world.”- Samantha Renke, PGCE, BAhon , Presenter, Consultant, Disability Lead, Author, Columnist, Keynote, Power 100 most influential disabled person, TLC Lions

“It is fantastic to see the evolution of diversity and inclusion over the last 10 years, whilst looking forward to the ideas and progress shaped by those entering the profession and starting out in their careers. It has been great to have been part of the discussion which has given a platform to these insights” - Georgia Crossman, Associate, Reed Smith

“Accommodation is just one, although a very important, part of what it means to be inclusive.” – Stuart Pixley, Senior Attorney- Quantum and Silicon Systems Futures, Microsoft

“We have not just been marginalized by our built environment, notice I didn’t say by our disabilities, we’ve also been marginalized by prejudice, stereotype, stigma, fear, all the things that so many other marginalized groups experience.” – Stuart Pixley, Senior Attorney- Quantum and Silicon Systems Futures, Microsoft

“No deaf, disabled, or neurodivergent individual should ever feel shame, should ever feel like a burden whether that’s in a workplace, by society, or, much closer to home, by their immediate family or friends.”- Samantha Renke, PGCE, BAhon , Presenter, Consultant, Disability Lead, Author, Columnist, Keynote, Power 100 most influential disabled person, TLC Lions

“Disability is something that impacts my everyday day to day, it’s something that I have to think about daily, I have to plan for daily, in every single activity that I do.”- Leah Sherman, J.D. Candidate, Class of 2024, UC Davis School of Law

“Living with a disability forces you to consider variables that other able bodied individuals don’t have to think about.”- Leah Sherman, J.D. Candidate, Class of 2024, UC Davis School of Law

“Being able to view every conversation as a learning opportunity is something that I stick with.”- Leah Sherman, J.D. Candidate, Class of 2024, UC Davis School of Law

“Essentially, becoming a diversity and inclusion officer, wasn’t a choice, it was a form of resistance, it is still a form of resistance, a form of survival and a way to establish community and build joy around my identities.” - Benedicta Oyewole, Programs Officer (Diversity and Inclusion) at Women's Health and Equal Rights (WHER) Initiative, TheirWorld Ambassador

“More and more people care about and would like to enhance the professional and the personal development of individuals with disabilities.”- Amy Yin, Partner, Reed Smith

“To promote productive employment and decent work for persons with disabilities in Hong Kong, entities ranging from locally established social enterprises, to internationally recognized brands, including Marriott International and Swire Hotels, all have initiatives which focus on placing persons with disabilities in the workplace.”- Cecilia Ng, Associate, Reed Smith

“People are different with different biological makeup and that creates a different experience of the world that we are born into.”- Annabel Cheung, Trainee, Reed Smith

“Despite the progress we’ve achieved in DE&I and diversity, there is still more to do.”- Jonathan Andrews, Associate, Reed Smith

“A fun and inventive business idea created by disabled people in Shanghai, which has gone viral, shows the benefits of diversity.”- Richard Ceeney, Partner, Reed Smith

“Sometimes it’s important for people with disabilities to sort of as you said take the first step or to have empathy or to include those who do not.”- Kevin Hara, Associate, Reed Smith

“In planning for this year’s summit, we wanted to reflect on the history of disability inclusion and in particular celebrate our 10 year anniversary of our group LEADRS.”- Tamara Box, Managing Partner of Europe & Middle East, Reed Smith

“Much improvement has happened over the course of my 12 years as an attorney and I’m seeing a lot of that here at Reed Smith.”- Angela Matney, Counsel, Reed Smith

“I know I work at a disability confident organization.”- Angela Matney, Counsel, Reed Smith

Building on our 2020 and 2021 summits

At Reed Smith, we believe in the importance of having an evolving conversation to realize the goal of achieving progress. During the 2020 Disability Inclusion Summit, we looked at the myths surrounding disability versus the reality. We also considered the business case for hiring people with disabilities together with the challenges and opportunities presented by COVID-19 and the hybrid work environment. During the 2021 Disability Inclusion Summit, we celebrated the diversity and disability journeys of businesses and organisations.

Thank you for your support for our diversity initiatives over the years and we look forward to you joining us again next year.

Speakers

• Aksheyaa Akilan, Award Winning Mental Health, Education & Rights Advocate, TheirWorld Ambassador
• Benedicta (Oyedayo) Oyewole, Programs Officer (Diversity and Inclusion) at Women's Health and Equal Rights (WHER) Initiative, TheirWorld Ambassador
• Charles-Edouard Catherine, Director of Corporate & Government Relations, National Organization on Disability
• Danielle Liebl, Associate Corporate Counsel, Amazon Web Services
• Phyllida Swift, CEO, Face Equality International
• Samantha Renke PGCE, Presenter, Consultant, Disability Lead, Author, Columnist, Keynote, Power 100 most influential disabled person, TLC Lions
• Stuart Pixley, Senior Attorney- Quantum and Silicon Systems Futures, Microsoft
• Angela Matney, Counsel, Reed Smith
• Carole Mehigan, Responsible Business Manager, Reed Smith
• Carolyn Pepper, Partner and Co-Chair of the Disability Business Inclusion Group, Reed Smith
• David Boutcher, Partner, Reed Smith
• Georgia Crossman, Associate, Reed Smith
• Joanne Christopher, Senior Human Resources Manager, Reed Smith
• Jonathan Andrews, Associate, Reed Smith
• Kevin Hara, Counsel, Reed Smith
• Leah Sherman, Incoming Summer Associate, Reed Smith
• Richard Ceeney, Partner, Reed Smith
• Steven Agnoli, Chief Information Officer, Reed Smith
• Tamara Box, Managing Partner of Europe & Middle East, Reed Smith
• Vaibhav Adlakha, Associate, Reed Smith