A Morning Dedicated to Leadership and Collaboration
On November 14, 2025, Stairs Dillenbeck Finley Mayer PLLC proudly hosted an Executive Breakfast of Women in a Legal World (WLW), a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting the talent and leadership of women in the legal sector.
The breakfast brought together an inspiring group of women dedicated to advancing leadership and expanding opportunities across the legal profession. It was a morning that celebrated the power of community, shared values, and purposeful collaboration.
The event was organized by Irene Teruel, Young President of the WLW New York Chapter, and Valentina Yane Gauffin, Global Young President of WLW, in collaboration with Lourdes Pomares, Partner at Stairs Dillenbeck Finley Mayer PLLC. Their leadership, vision, and organizational efforts were instrumental in bringing this gathering to life.
Honoring Progress and the Work Still Ahead
Stanley T. Stairs, founding partner, reflected on the evolution of women’s representation in law. He said that there were only twenty women in his class of five hundred fifty at Harvard Law School. In the class of 2025 women outnumber men. This is a reminder of the tremendous progress woman have achieved in the legal field.
Inspiring Voices and Insightful Perspectives
We were honored to welcome Julissa Reynoso, former U.S. Ambassador to Spain and Andorra, who emphasized the effort and dedication required to open doors and create new opportunities. Her remarks highlighted the importance of perseverance and the responsibility of leaders to lift others as they rise.
We also heard from Viktoria Khaitina, from the team of Women, Business and the Law of the World Bank Group, who presented the 2024 Executive Summary for this program. She shared a striking finding: half of the world’s women (3.9 billion) still face legal barriers to economic opportunity. Her presentation provided both clarity and urgency, reminding us that legal reform remains essential to achieving global gender equality.
A Shared Commitment to Purposeful Impact
This Executive Breakfast reflects the values that guide Stairs Dillenbeck Finley Mayer PLLC (founded in 1977) as we continue fostering meaningful partnerships. We remain committed to supporting initiatives that empower women in the legal profession.
We extend our sincere thanks to everyone who attended and contributed to making this event memorable and impactful.
