Our commitment to diversity

We value all diversity in all dimensions

Pearce IP is committed to fostering a positive, respectful, diverse and inclusive work environment where employee differences are respected and valued and for all to have equal access to opportunities. We support and embrace each other’s differences and the daily actions of all staff should promote a fair, equitable and supportive work setting.

In addition to being a female-led firm, Pearce IP is committed to celebrating and embracing a diverse workforce which includes more than 30% of senior management with disability and 25% of the team from culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) backgrounds.

Creating an environment of trust, respect and inclusion leads to benefits such as greater innovation, better understanding of our clients and their needs, along with attracting and retaining a wide range of talented staff.

As a company we are dedicated to a culture that reflects and represents the community in which we work. Our executive team plays an important role as champions, providing leadership that creates a positive and inclusive workplace.

Pearce IP’s inclusive workplace understands and respects differences such as age, caring responsibilities, cultural background, disability, religious beliefs, sexual orientation, ethnicity, gender expression and intersex status.

Pearce IP has a female founder and more than 75% of its leaders are women

Pearce IP is a place where it is “normal” to see women in leadership and where pay equity is a ‘given’. We are proud to have a majority leadership of capable, respected women, rarely seen in law firms in Australia:

As of 1 August 2022, our staffing demographics relating to women in the workplace were as follows:

• Pearce IP has a female founder.

• More than 75% of the Pearce IP leaders are women.

• More than 80% of the Pearce IP team are women.

Pearce IP’s founder Naomi Pearce is the only Australian practitioner honoured by WIPR Diversity in 2021 in the world’s top 100 Influential Women in IP. She was honoured to be the recipient of the peer reviewed Lawyers Weekly Women in Law Partner of the Year (SME Law) in 2021.

Our “work from anywhere” model fosters diversity

A key factor in achieving diversity in our firm is our ‘work from anywhere’ model, allowing our team to efficiently meet client responsibilities as well as personal responsibilities, working both flexibly when required and in a way that works for them. Not only does this allow us to “hand pick” the best of the best without geographical limitation and opening up diverse geographical talent pools, it also removes barriers which might otherwise constrain a diverse work force. Working from home encourages our people to bring their whole selves to work, promoting inclusivity, understanding and appreciation of the value that diversity brings to our work and individual interactions.

In some states, staff are also provided with the opportunity to work from a dedicated office if they wish to, allowing for face-to-face engagement on a regular basis.

Committed to leading change

Determined to bring about change more broadly, our team members are active in the IP and legal community, including participating as sitting members on the IP Committee of the Australian Law Council, IPSANZ Trans-Tasman Committee, IPTA Council, and participating in mentoring programmes for young female lawyers.