Cushman, Chen, Schwartz, Spaeth and Wray (L to R) shared life journeys, obstacles and solutions.

SAN FRANCISCO—Earlier this month, Cushman & Wakefield hosted its first West Coast Women in Law Leadership Event at the top of the Salesforce Tower. Led by the firm's legal sector advisory group and women's integrated network, the privately attended event was an opportunity to assemble a panel of law firm and in-house counsel leaders, both attorneys and executives, to share life journeys, obstacles and solutions that got them to where they are today.

The panel discussion and networking event featured four women within the legal sector: Wei Chen, vice president and associate general counsel, Salesforce; Tessa Schwartz, managing partner, Morrison & Foerster LLP; Susan Spaeth, chief legal officer and former managing partner, Kilpatrick Townsend & Stockton LLP; and Erica Wray, legal director, real estate, Uber Technologies Inc. The discussion was moderated by Sherry Cushman, executive managing director and leader, legal sector advisory group, Cushman & Wakefield.

“Technology, globalization of law, shifting demographics and historic generational transitions; as the world around us evolves, so too is the practice of law. And now more than ever, women are taking the lead in guiding law firms and corporate legal entities to adapt to these changes and thrive,” Cushman tells GlobeSt.com. “And while women's growth in leadership in the legal sector has been substantial, much work remains to be done.”