Discourse with Bonnie Kong, Anderson Mori, and Tomotsune
Anderson Mori & Tomotsune (AMT), a leading Japanese law firm, has been making strides in promoting diversity and inclusion, particularly in the advancement and retention of female and foreign lawyers in the country's legal profession.
The firm's commitment to this cause is evident in its collaborations with organisations like Women In Law Japan (WILJ). These collaborations aim to promote gender diversity and share best practices across the legal profession.
Bonnie Kong, a partner at AMT, serves on both the Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Committee at AMT and the Executive Committee of WILJ. Her experiences with the firm's management have shaped her approach to mentoring diverse talent, focusing on active listening, thoughtful guidance, and creating opportunities for others to thrive.
AMT's leadership considers diversity a long-term strategic priority. They measure and evaluate their progress on diversity initiatives, particularly regarding the integration and career development of female and foreign lawyers. The Management Committee at AMT is currently chaired by a female partner.
The firm engages in initiatives such as career development workshops, structured mentoring programs, and flexible work arrangements to support colleagues from different backgrounds. These initiatives are designed to foster a more inclusive work environment and provide opportunities for growth and advancement.
While specific benchmarks for the firm's diversity progress in the next five years were not mentioned, it is clear that AMT is committed to continuous improvement in this area. The firm's management has provided crucial support during challenging moments in Bonnie Kong's career, demonstrating their dedication to the advancement of their diverse talent.
In alignment with broader diversity frameworks such as the Women's Empowerment Principles (WEPs), AMT is committed to policies including equal pay, inclusive environments, career development support, training, and mentoring. These initiatives are crucial for fostering growth and retention of female professionals.
In terms of foreign lawyers, AMT, with its large international footprint and strengths in international business law, likely has systems and policies to integrate and retain foreign-qualified lawyers. However, specifics were not found in the search results.
While exact metrics or methods AMT uses to measure progress in diversity goals were not explicitly mentioned, best practices consistent with the Women's Empowerment Principles include regularly measuring progress and reporting results on diversity initiatives and workforce demographics. Leveraging feedback from internal surveys, retention and promotion rates of female and foreign lawyers, participation in mentoring/training programs, and monitoring equal pay policies are assumed to be standard tools for measuring progress.
In conclusion, Anderson Mori & Tomotsune supports female and foreign lawyers mainly through participation in diversity initiatives, networking events, and inclusive workplace policies, aligned with global principles like WEPs. Their progress is likely tracked through regular assessments and benchmarking against these standards, although detailed disclosures on their internal measurement methods were not found in available sources.
- Anderson Mori & Tomotsune is dedicated to promoting diversity and inclusion, extending their focus to the integration and career development of female and foreign lawyers, as part of their long-term strategic priorities.
- Bonnie Kong, serving on both the Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Committee at AMT and the Executive Committee of WILJ, has been instrumental in mentoring diverse talent, with a focus on active listening, guidance, and creating growth opportunities.
- AMT's initiatives for diverse talent encourage a more inclusive work environment, providing support through career development workshops, structured mentoring programs, and flexible work arrangements.
- AMT's beliefs align with broader diversity frameworks like the Women's Empowerment Principles (WEPs), advocating for equal pay, inclusive environments, career development support, training, and mentoring, crucial for the growth and retention of female professionals.
- While specifics about AMT's systems and policies for foreign-qualified lawyers were not found, their large international footprint and strengths in international business law suggest they have systems in place for integrating and retaining foreign lawyers.
