ACADEMIC PROGRAMME

Session 9 - AWN Session
The Invisible 'Rules': Gender, Bias, and Power Dynamics Young Women Lawyers Still Face and How to Overcome Them

DATE & TIME​

LOCATION

🗓️ Thursday, August 27
🕐 14:00-15:00 

📍 Grand Park Hall 1–3

Organised By

Organised by the AIJA Women Network

Description

Being perceived as ‘too young’, ‘too emotional’, ‘too female’, ‘too bossy’, or ‘not authoritative enough’; being interrupted, overlooked, or denied proper credit — these are just some of the invisible hurdles that, despite significant progress, women continue to face in the legal profession. This session explores the invisible ‘rules’ and unwritten expectations — unconscious bias, gendered assumptions, cultural norms, power structures and the double standards women face — and focuses on how to challenge them and create a fairer and more equitable legal profession.

SPEAKERS

Lisa Beisteiner

ZEILER
Vienna, Austria

Bio

Lisa Beisteiner is a founding partner of ZEILER and focuses on international dispute resolution, with a strong focus on international arbitration acting both as counsel and as arbitrator.
As a counsel, Lisa handles complex disputes across all industries, with a recent focus on energy, finance, construction and (post-)M&A disputes. She has acted under numerous rules, including the ICC, VIAC, LCIA, UNCITRAL and ICSID Rules, as well as in ad hoc proceedings, and has handled cases with amounts in dispute beyond EUR 1 billion. Lisa also represents clients before Austrian courts in commercial and corporate matters.
Lisa regularly sits as arbitrator. She started her career as arbitrator in 2011 and has handled numerous cases ever since. She regularly acts as chair of the tribunal, as sole arbitrator and as party-appointed arbitrator mainly under the ICC, VIAC and DIS Rules, as well as on ad hoc panels. Whilst her arbitrator work spans
many industries, she has a particular interest in technology, engineering & construction as well as cross-border supplies.
Besides, Lisa frequently lectures on dispute resolution at international and national conferences and has built a strong reputation for her academic work in the field, publishing e.g. on tribunal’s powers to adjust contracts, interim measures and emergency arbitration as well as co-authoring a study on dispute resolution in
Austria in cooperation with the University of Vienna.
Lisa is a member of the ICC Commission and currently active in the ICC Task force on the use of AI in International Arbitration. She is a former co-chair of YAAP as well as a VIAC National Advisory Board Member.
Lisa is listed as a Thought Leader and leading figure in all major directories.
She was admitted to the Austrian bar in 2011 (with distinction) and is a registered mediator (ZivMediatG). Lisa is a graduate of the University of Vienna (Mag. iur. 2005, Dr. iur. 2008, both with distinction).

Liam Schmid

Savonitto & Associates
Montreal, Canada

Bio

Liam Schmid is a civil litigation lawyer and arbitrator practicing at the Savonitto & Associates firm in Montreal, Canada. He specializes in cases involving international private law, cross border disputes, foreign judgment enforcement and arbitration. Other than that Liam practices as a generalist for all civil matters. They are a member of AIJA since 2024. Outside of work, Liam has a particular interest in militancy, feminism, and LGBTQ+ rights. They are also the proud parent of two cats (pictures available upon request).

MODERATOR AND SESSION COORDINATOR

Hana Al Khatib

Global Advocacy and Legal Counsel
Abu Dhabi, UAE

Bio

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