DLA Piper partner addresses Arab International Women's Forum

The conference follows the AIWF 2007 theme of Globalisation, Trade and Entrepreneurship and is entitled - Powering the Future: Arab Business Women in a Modern Economy. Alison will participate in a session covering Global Networks and Partnerships. She will discuss the lessons that can be learnt from the international business community which might benefit women in business in the Arab World and help improve standards, business practices and skills.

Also addressing the conference will be HE Sheikha Lubna Al Qasimi, the Minister of Planning, UAE and a founder board member of the AIWF.

DLA Piper is a global partner of the AIWF and both organizations work together in shared commitment and ideals to engender greater cooperation and engagement in the economic arena in the Arab world.

Alison's talk will cover DLA Piper's vision and way of working as well as the general initiatives in the legal world and workplace issues across the City of London.

Alison Gowman, comments on the upcoming conference: ''The issues for women in the Middle East are not as difficult as they might seem at first. There are fewer legal restraints on women in the work place but more cultural and family issues. I hope to use the example of the integration of women in the legal sector as a model that could be used positively in the Arab world.''

"Empowering women by addressing the issues of entrepreneurship, financing and best practice from other parts of the international business world are crucial and it is fantastic to be given such a platform to share not only the way in which DLA Piper champions women but also the broader legal sector."