Freshfields First Woman Chair: Lockstep Won’t Halt U.S. Push

Georgia Dawson is set to become the first woman to lead Freshfields, or any of London’s Magic Circle multinational law firms. She spoke with Bloomberg Law about her opportunity to bolster the industry’s diversity and inclusion efforts, continue her firm’s expansion in the U.S., and shake up some traditional law firm views following the pandemic.

Not Out-of-Step: Dawson, previously managing partner for Freshfields in Asia, said the firm’s largely seniority-based lockstep compensation system will not hinder plans to recruit and expand stateside. “The steps we have taken in the United States demonstrate that our lockstep fully supports our strategic ambitions ...