SistersIN and Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer Enter Fifth Year of Partnership

Pictured (L-R): Melanie Colwill (Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer), Gillian McKeown (SistersIN) and Suzanne Cowan (Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer)

SistersIN is delighted to announce the continuation of its partnership with Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer (HSF Kramer) as the organisation enters its fifth year of supporting the charity, building on a shared commitment to empowering young women with the confidence, skills and opportunities to become the leaders of tomorrow.

Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer is one of the world's leading global law firms, helping many of the world's largest organisations to navigate complexity, manage risk and seize opportunities in a changing world. Through its partnership in Northern Ireland with SistersIN, colleagues from the firm have volunteered as mentors, sharing their experiences, opening doors to the legal profession and helping young women build the confidence to pursue ambitious futures.

Since launching in 2022, SistersIN has grown significantly, now working with 72 schools across Northern Ireland, supporting over 800 girls and more than 700 mentors in the last year through Leadership Development, Mentoring, Job Shadowing and Leadership-in-action Projects. Collectively, participants have delivered hundreds of community projects, building confidence, developing leadership skills and creating lasting social impact.

Melanie Colwill, Belfast-based Learning and Development Manager at Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer, said:

"At Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer, we believe everyone should have the opportunity to reach their potential, regardless of their background. Through our partnership with SistersIN, we're helping young women in Northern Ireland build the skills, connections and confidence they need as they move into higher education and the workplace.

A growing number of senior team members from our firm have volunteered as mentors, supporting participants while also developing their own coaching, communication and leadership skills. The experience has given them valuable insight and allowed them to make a meaningful difference in the lives of young women across Northern Ireland.

Over the past year, we've seen the programme have a real impact. Participants have grown in confidence, developed their leadership abilities and gone on to make positive contributions within their schools and communities. We're proud to continue supporting SistersIN and helping to create opportunities for the next generation of leaders".

Gillian McKeown, Director of Operations and Growth at SistersIN, said:

“Long-term partnerships like the one we have with Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer are incredibly valuable because they allow young women to gain more than just leadership skills — they gain insight into different career pathways, develop transferable skills, and build confidence to make informed decisions about their future. Through the support and expertise of our partners, we can connect girls with inspiring role models and real-world experiences that help them see what is possible.”

SistersIN's recently published Impact Report highlights the power of these partnerships. During the 2025/26 programme year, 727 mentors volunteered their time, delivering almost 3,800 mentoring hours and supporting 756 job shadow experiences. Together, pupils completed 480 leadership projects, contributing more than 9,000 hours of meaningful activity that positively impacted over 17,700 people across Northern Ireland.

As SistersIN continues to expand its reach, long-standing partnerships with organisations such as Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer remain fundamental to ensuring more young women can access the confidence, connections and leadership opportunities they need to thrive.

For more information about Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer, visit the firm's website: https://www.hsfkramer.com/

Find out more at Get Involved | SistersIN | Northern Ireland or reach out to our Partnerships Manager erourke@sisters-in.org.