Creating space for connection, courage and wellbeing
In May 2026, I had the privilege of helping to organise and chair the joint PEOPIL and AAJ Women Trial Lawyers Caucus wellbeing conference in Barcelona, which I attended with my colleague Rebecca Smith. We held our inaugural conference last year, and it is fair to say that we set a high standard. It is no exaggeration to say that this year’s event was every bit as successful, and that both conferences have been among the most meaningful professional experiences of my career.
Our intention was to create a supportive and collaborative environment in which attendees felt able to discuss the issues affecting those involved in personal injury litigation. Working with colleagues across jurisdictions, we developed a programme that reflected the challenges and the opportunities facing women in law today. From the early planning stages, such as coordinating speakers, securing the venue at the Barcelona Bar Association and obtaining APIL accreditation, through to the finer details of curating content and wellbeing-focused sessions, the process reinforced the value of shared leadership.
Panels and presentations explored topics ranging from psychological wellbeing to the emotional realities of acting for seriously injured clients, alongside more practical discussions concerning leadership, engagement with the media and authentic professional identity. We were privileged to hear thoughtful and candid reflections from lawyers navigating these issues in their daily practice.
There was also a deliberate emphasis on the often-overlooked connection between physical and psychological wellbeing. Whether through structured sessions or informal conversations, the message was clear: sustained professional performance requires more than intellectual rigour; it also requires care, balance, and self-awareness. Small but practical commitments to rest, movement or reflection were shown to be as important as the technical legal insight shared over the course of the two days. With this in mind, I was pleased to arrange a morning yoga session sponsored by Stewarts on the first day of the conference, which proved both restorative and energising.
On a personal level, attending the conference was both affirming and inspiring. I was especially grateful to receive such positive feedback from attendees regarding the value and importance of the event. That response served as a timely reminder of why collaboration across borders matters and why investing in wellbeing is essential for our clients, our colleagues, and ourselves. The conference, together with the ongoing PEOPIL Women in Legal Leadership forum, is something I am immensely proud to have helped shape, and I look forward to building on its success in the years ahead.
