In addition to our internal Peer Support Network and mentoring programmes, Bell Gully has several support networks focused around diversity initiatives:
Women at Bell Gully,
The LGBTQI+ Network, and
The Parents' Network.
Women at Bell Gully
Our Women at Bell Gully programme actively promotes the development, success, and retention of women at all levels of the firm. The programme focuses on inspiration (external speakers including Lisa Tamati, Leonie Freeman and Siobhan McKenna), connecting (internal speed networking and business development opportunities), and supporting female focused community initiatives (including Shine, Dignity and Breast Cancer Foundation).
Bell Gully was named a winner at the 2019 NZ UN Women's Empowerment Principles White Camellia Awards. The firm received an award in recognition of our work to promote education, training and professional development opportunities for women. The awards celebrate organisations that are taking positive steps to ensure our New Zealand workplaces are fair, equal and offer the opportunity to succeed. Bell Gully also received White Camellia awards in 2014 and 2015.
Bell Gully is a signatory of the New Zealand Law Society's Gender Equality Charter.
The Women at Bell Gully programme is partner-led, by Laura Littlewood in Auckland and Toni Forrest in Wellington. For more information email the Women at Bell Gully committee.
LGBTQI+
Our LGBTQI+ Network is for Bell Gully staff and partners who are members of the LGBTQI+ community, as well as for others in the firm who want to support their LGBTQI+ colleagues. The network is one way of demonstrating that Bell Gully is a welcoming and safe place to be yourself.
Bell Gully is proud to have been certified with the Rainbow Tick after demonstrating its strong commitment to the inclusion and support of the LGBTQI+ community.
In 2019, Bell Gully hosted a panel session 'Breaking the Rainbow Ceiling' and extended the invitation to LGBTQI+ members in the legal profession. Following the event, Bell Gully initiated the establishment of an LGBTQI+ community, specifically for those in the legal profession or studying law.
Bell Gully holds various Rainbow Tick events, LGBTQI+ focus groups and forums and marks occasions of relevance to rainbow communities, such as Pride, Red Ribbon Day and Pink Shirt Day.
Bell Gully branded rainbow pins help show our support to members of the LGBTQI+ community, within the firm and our wider communities.
Parents Network
We support our new parents with additional parental leave, salary top-up payments and support while they are on leave. The Parents Network is a way for us to demonstrate ongoing support to our working parents.
Our Parents Network provides opportunities for our parents to connect with each other (e.g. Parents Network morning teas), as well as attending family focused events throughout the year (e.g. NCEA information session and Nathan Wallis' seminar on early brain development). We have an annual children's Christmas party and children's picnic, as well as an 'offspring in the office' day where people can bring their children to the office for some entertainment and the chance to interact with colleagues. It is important to us that we recognise the role our working parents play outside of the workplace, and to bridge the gap between home and work commitments.