43
( 2020 )
Inclusiveness is fundamental at Norton Rose Fulbright
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hen Danisa Sanchez joined Norton Rose Fulbright Canada as a talent assistant in July 2016, she had experience as a human resources professional with a mid-sized mining company in the Dominican Republic, where she grew up. “But I had a lot to learn,” she says. With Norton Rose Fulbright, Sanchez had joined a global firm with offices in more than 50 cities. In Canada, the firm has more than 1,600 full-time partners and employees, including lawyers, patent and trademark agents in business law, dispute resolution and litigation, intellectual property, and employment and labour. But learning about different areas of law wasn’t the only challenge. “There were cultural differences as well,” she says. At her previous employer, Sanchez adhered to a rigid hierarchy of staff, managers and executives, and she expected to find a similar structure at Norton Rose Fulbright. But one day, she asked a colleague if she should go directly to a senior partner at the firm to ask her about a project that she was working on. “My colleague said, ‘You can go to anyone in our office, and they will always talk to you’.” For Sanchez, Norton Rose Fulbright’s working environment was a welcome change. The firm may be a major player in the global legal world, with Canadian offices in Calgary, Montreal, Ottawa, Quebec City, Toronto and Vancouver, but it’s managed in a way that encourages every individual to excel.
NORTON ROSE FULBRIGHT COLLEAGUES MEETING IN THE CAFE HUB OF THEIR NEW TORONTO OFFICE “A great law firm is made up of more than great lawyers, and we acknowledge and appreciate the efforts of our entire workforce,” says Terence Dobbin, a senior partner in the firm and the managing partner of its Toronto office. “We really pride ourselves on inclusion.” In fact, the provision of an inclusive working environment is a fundamental aspect of the firm’s vision, Dobbin adds, and a key ingredient to its business success.
My team comes from different backgrounds and different cultures. It makes me feel comfortable. – Danisa Sanchez Talent Assistant
“Different backgrounds and experiences bring with them a wealth of ideas and approaches,” he says, “and we draw from them to ensure we’re performing at our very best.” The inclusiveness of Norton Rose Fulbright’s Toronto office also reflects the diversity of the city itself. That was one of the reasons why Sanchez moved to Toronto, she says. Sanchez already had a bachelor’s degree in business administration and management from the Universidad Autónoma de Santo Domingo when she enrolled in a postgraduate human resources management program at George Brown College. When she finished her postgraduate program, she began looking for potential employers. “I thought I might go to work for a bank
Norton Rose Fulbright is proud to be one of Greater Toronto’s Top Employers 2020 Law around the world nortonrosefulbright.com
where my Spanish would be an asset,” she says. “Norton Rose Fulbright was my first interview in English. I didn’t expect to get hired, but I thought it might be good experience for other interviews.” As it turned out, it was her first and only interview. “Norton Rose Fulbright hired me,” she says. As a member of the firm’s legal talent team Sanchez supports its efforts to attract and recruit law students who will become future lawyers at the firm. In the meantime, Sanchez has added to her qualifications as an HR professional. With the firm’s support, she has attended seminars and educational conferences to obtain advanced designations in the field. Within the firm, Norton Rose Fulbright consolidated all its HR, talent management and development functions, with 15 people on the combined Toronto team. “My team comes from different backgrounds and different cultures,” Sanchez says. “It makes me feel comfortable. I feel motivated to come to work every day.”
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FULL-TIME EMPLOYEES IN CANADA JOBS AVAILABLE LAST YEAR
65.7%
OF MANAGERS ARE WOMEN
63.6%
OF THE EXECUTIVE TEAM ARE WOMEN