Empowering women has been a focus of the Qatari agenda for several decades. But the country isn’t resting on its laurels as it continues to create major advancements for women, according to Chahira Solh, Executive Committee Chair of the US-based global law firm Crowell & Moring.
“Qatar is making big moves and making things much more equal, advancing women in particular,” Solh told Qatar Tribune during a recent visit to Crowell & Moring’s Doha office. “The government wants representation, wants its people to feel included and actually feel like their voice matters, and their voice is something that they can use to make a difference.”
Solh notes that Qatar seems to be headed in a more inclusive direction, especially with regards to education. “Universities have increased the ability of women to advance their education and get degrees, better placing them on equal footing. All of that has been great, and you can also see that play out in the legal profession as there continues to be more women entering the work force.”
Solh, an Arab-American with family roots in Lebanon and Syria, is the first diverse female chair of Crowell & Moring’s executive committee.
Most recently, the Los Angeles Times B2B Publishing recognised Solh, along with another partner at the firm, as Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Accessibility (DEIA) Visionaries, describing the Crowell partners as some of the “region’s most influential and innovative thought leaders who are driving change, holding companies accountable, and helping employees feel more valued.” The publication highlighted Solh for establishing groundbreaking DEIA strategies.
As more women lawyers rise through the ranks and take on leadership roles, it may be fair to ask whether the legal industry is still male dominated? Solh said, “It is improving. There are a lot of women who have been able to really have great careers and have been able to get fantastic leadership opportunities. I think in portions of the legal profession, there are a lot more women who have advanced, and in some portions, there’s a lot of work to be done. We made progress, but I think there’s still more work to do.”
Asked whether she believes in a quota system to have women in leadership roles, Solh emphasized that she does not favor using a quota system.
“You don’t need the quotas to achieve the goals. What you really should focus on is creating opportunities for women to advance and then making sure that as they advance to leadership positions, they have the skills that they need to lead, which means having training and mentorship.
“In a quota system where you haven’t actually provided someone the tools to be a good leader, they’re not going to be successful, whether it’s a woman or a man. Diversity, equality, and inclusivity are some of the most important tenets of our firm; and they have led to an environment that is much more inclusive of different viewpoints which is very important because that results in better work product and excellence for clients,” she added.
In Qatar, Crowell & Moring, which won the International Law Firm of the Year at the Qatar Business Law Forum last year, has grown significantly since it first opened its Doha office three years ago. The Doha office reflects the global law firm’s commitment to diversity, inclusion, and equality through its diversified practices, Solh said.
There are tremendous growth opportunities for the country’s legal sector post-World Cup.
Solh noted, “The legal industry will continue to grow, especially as Qatar continues to diversify its economy and attracts different types of businesses and new technology. As you have more growth, there will likely be an increase of regulatory schemes within the country and the need for trusted advisors to help clients understand and comply.
“There continues to be significant investment by Qatar and in Qatar by different companies, and that will just lead to more sophisticated legal work, specifically in the areas of corporate transactions and commercial litigation. Another area of growth is going to be Intellectual Property, just given that there’s new technology coming in and being developed here as well.
This is an exciting time for the country. We are happy to be present and feel privileged for the opportunity to make a positive contribution to its growth and success,” she added.
