NETWORKING & EVENTS NETWORKING&EVENTS BY SUE COOKE
“You are never too small to make a difference,” said Birmingham solicitor Karen Bailey. Karen knows because as a small family legal firm she took on the might of the United Nations and America’s largest UN contractor, DynCorp International. In 2002 Karen won a £115,000 payout
for former police officer Kathryn Bolkovac, who blew the whistle on the goliath organisations which were involved with trafficking women and turning them to prostitution. The events which took place 10 years ago
have been made into a movie starring Vanessa Redgrave and Rachel Wiesz. Karen was speaking at Women Who event
sponsored by the Marriott Hotel and the Litigation Advice Bureau. She spoke about the high profile case and her career in the legal profession. Her one-day work experience at Tyndalwoods
led to further work experience, training and eventually she became a partner at the age of 26. Fifteen years ago she set up her own legal firm with her husband. She said it was a terrifying thing to do. “You do keep picking up the phone to see if it is still working, but there are lots of people who are willing to support you,” she said. At Bailey Wright & Co., based in the Jewellery
Quarter, she works on her favourite subjects, which are education, employment and family law. She said: “You spend an awful lot of time at work, so it is important to be able to enjoy what
Food for thought
you are doing and enjoy the environment.” She said she was glad to be able to highlight
what was going on behind the scenes at the UN. She said: “Before the case I always thought that the UN was a good thing, our equivalent of
Save the date: Chamber dinner
Birmingham Chamber of Commerce Group’s annual dinner and awards for 2012 will be held on 26 April in Hall 3 of the International Convention Centre in Birmingham. There will be a drinks reception at 6pm
followed by the dinner at 7pm. One of the highlights of the night will be the presentation of a number of business awards in recognition of
business achievement and success throughout the region. Henrik Court, director of events said the annual dinner is always one of the highlights of the business calendar. He said: “The event attracts a number of key influencers and decision makers and provides an opportunity to network.”
BIRMINGHAM CHAMBER EVENTS PARTNERS
‘Thunderbirds’ international rescue! Yet I am still waiting 10 years on for responses to letters I sent to them about the case. Whistle blowing is the right thing to do but too many times people get punished for speaking out.”
L-R: D’Arcy Mogan, executive chef at West 12, the new restaurant at the Marriott Hotel with Elizabeth Boylin, sales manager, Marriott Hotel, Henrik Court, Birmingham Chamber of Commerce and seated, Karen Bailey
OCTOBER 2011 CHAMBERLINK 25
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