Beyond Tradition: Empowering South Asian Women and Shaping Legacies

Join the Association of Asian Women Lawyers for a powerful and thought-provoking panel discussion exploring the challenges faced by British South Asian women in inheritance, health, and beyond. Our panel of inspiring women will shed light on the systemic issues of disinheritance in wills and probate, health inequalities, and the deeper societal and cultural barriers that perpetuate these injustices.

Through personal stories and expert insights, we will uncover the root causes—intergenerational trauma, patriarchal traditions, and societal pressures—and discuss pathways toward change. This event is an opportunity to engage in meaningful dialogue, challenge outdated norms, and advocate for a more just and equitable future for South Asian women.

Location: 

Irwin Mitchell Solicitors

40 Holborn Viaduct London EC1N 2PZ

Panelists:
Jenita Treacy, Transport for London

Geeta Nayar, Irwin Mitchell

Sangita Manek, Irwin Mitchell

Host:

Leena Savjani, Irwin Mitchell / AAWL

Panelist bios:

Jenita Treacy is a passionate advocate for South Asian history and storytelling, with a particular focus on generational trauma and the lived experiences of South Asian women. Her interest in this area stems from her leadership of the RACE Colleague Network Group at Transport for London, where she served as chair for three years, in a voluntary capacity, supporting 1,500 members and spearheading initiatives such as multiple cultural heritage months and the highly successful Race-Allies programme, which she continues to support.

Geeta Nayar is a Senior Associate Solicitor at Irwin Mitchell, Advocate for The MASIC Foundation and Birth Trauma Association, and Make Birth Better Champion. In 2008 during the birth of her first child, she sustained life-changing obstetric injuries and had to undergo extensive medical treatment. As a result of her experiences Geeta has become an advocate and strong campaigner for women who have suffered birth injuries. Geeta is also passionate about health equity and organised the inaugural South Asian Maternal Health Conference in June 2024 at the RCOG to address disparities in care and create meaningful change in maternal outcomes for South Asian women.

Sangita Manek specialises in contentious probate disputes including disputed Wills, breach of trust claims, administration of estate disputes and claims under the Inheritance (Provision for Family & Dependants) Act 1975. She regularly act for high-net-worth individuals and represents large estates both in bringing and defending claims on a full range of services from initial pre-action negotiations through to mediation and if necessary, all the way to trial, regularly dealing with difficult and emotive cases. She has a special interest in cohabitee disputes (also known as TOLATA claims) in relation to the ownership of property and is often considered the go-to litigator in this area of work, having written extensively about making claims for beneficial interests in property.

Host:

Leena Savjani is a Partner at national law firm Irwin Mitchell. She is based in Irwin Mitchell’s London office and specialises in Claimant Medical Negligence. A strong advocate for patients and maintaining high standards of care in the medical profession, she is well recognised as a leading expert on medical law, having represented numerous clients over the years who have suffered life changing, severe injuries. She specialises in supporting both adults and children who have suffered brain or catastrophic injury due to avoidable mistakes. Leena is also a Legally Qualified Chair for the Medical Practitioners Tribunal Service where she chairs fitness to practice hearings in relation to doctors. In 2021, First 100 years awarded her ‘Inspirational Solicitor of the Year’ and the Legal 500 – independent legal directory ranking lawyers and law firms – recognises her as a ‘Leading Partner’ and describes her as “Focused, driven and committed – she takes no prisoners”. Leena co-chairs her firm’s race diversity group IM Respect and is also a committee member of the Association of Asian Women Lawyers.