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Herbert Smith Freehills is proud to announce that Ms Bianca Janovic is the 2019 recipient of the firm’s Kathryn Everett Leadership Fellowship for Women.

The award was created by Herbert Smith Freehills in recognition of Ms Everett, a senior intellectual property partner, who sadly passed away in June 2013. The Fellowship is a way by which the firm recognises Ms Everett’s unique contribution to Herbert Smith Freehills and its people. Her leadership roles and passions included leading the firm’s diversity initiatives, her strong support of the firm’s pro bono program, and the intellectual property profession .

Ms Janovic is a senior associate in the firm’s disputes practice in Brisbane. Her work includes complex commercial litigation, strategic reviews, regulatory investigations and pro bono matters. She is also co-chair of IRIS, the firm’s LGBTI Network and in 2014 won the Law Institute of Victoria’s Rising Star of the Year award in recognition of her technical skills as a commercial litigator, leadership in LGBTI rights and significant contributions to indigenous reconciliation and pro bono work.

Ms Janovic plans to use the Fellowship to undertake Harvard’s Women's Leadership Forum: Innovation Strategies for a Changing World in Boston early next year.

Andrew Pike, Herbert Smith Freehills’ Regional Managing Partner, Australia said, “I want to congratulate Bianca on this well-deserved recognition. She is a high performing lawyer who excels not only in her core client work but also as a leader in the firm’s diversity and pro bono initiatives.

“She’s a natural leader, role model and mentor for junior staff and consistently demonstrates many of the qualities that Kathryn was known for, including optimism, generosity of spirit, creativity, a strong sense of justice and a clear vision for the future.

“As a firm we are delighted to support talented women through initiatives such as this. It’s just one of the ways in which we develop our people and maintain a diverse and inclusive workplace for the benefit of our staff and clients.”

Sue Gilchrist, the Chair of the Fellowship Panel commented:

“The panel was incredibly impressed by the calibre of the senior women lawyers in the firm who applied for the Fellowship. It is heartening to see the culture Kathryn helped to create, continuing to enable the development of such outstanding talent at HSF.”

Ms Janovic commented: “I am thrilled to receive the Fellowship and honoured to be travelling to Harvard Business School in Kathryn’s name. Kathryn was committed to ensuring the firm is a fair, equitable and compassionate place for all its people. I share this commitment and believe we all have an important role to play in fostering a culture that thrives on genuine inclusion and innovation. I am excited to further develop my part in achieving this vision through the Fellowship, and beyond.”