Women in Legal Business - Alessandra Del Bianco

Alessandra Del Bianco is a co-founder of SWOT Legal, a firm designed to provide agile legal solutions that align closely with the evolving needs of modern General Counsel. Her work focuses on delivering what the current market increasingly demands: flexibility, cost efficiency, and specialized expertise integrated directly into the client’s workflow. The success of this approach relies on a fundamental commitment to understanding the client’s specific context, language, and strategic concerns. For Del Bianco, legal advice is most effective when it transcends technical correctness to achieve the right cultural and operational fit. She has built her practice around this relational capability, ensuring that legal support serves as a seamless extension of the business itself.

Looking at your career path, what unique leadership trait has been most instrumental in allowing you to "move the needle" within your organization?

I believe the distinguishing element that has enabled me to shape my role at Swot Legal and to grow professionally has been a direct and empathetic approach toward both our clients and, above all, the lawyers who collaborate with us.

I come from that world and remain very much a part of it, and I believe that speaking their language, understanding their nuances and concerns, and dedicating time to them truly makes the difference.

Reflecting on the past year, what is the most significant positive change you have observed regarding gender equality and female representation within the upper echelons of the Italian legal market?

Frankly, I have observed small and gradual changes, but I have not noticed anything truly significant over the past year.

How do you personally advocate for the inclusion of more women in high-stakes decision-making?

I consistently involve my female colleagues in committees and decision-making processes to ensure greater diversity. I make a deliberate effort to include the voices of women professionals and periodically organize meetings with them to foster dialogue and engagement.

In a sector historically rooted in traditional structures, what is the single most important cultural shift still required to ensure that the Italian legal business becomes a truly meritocratic environment for the next generation of women?

For me, the most important change is to stop taking for granted that men and women have different professional ambitions — that women are less ambitious, that they prefer to stay at home, or that they are not interested in reaching positions of power.

When they are allowed to start from the same point, offered the same opportunities, and free to decide how far they want to go, gender will become less relevant and meritocracy will truly prevail.

And perhaps it will also become clear that women do aspire to positions of power and responsibility — and are often even more qualified and better prepared to assume them.

Success is rarely a solo journey. How has collaboration with other women (in-house or external) influenced your approach to business, and how are you paying that forward within your team?

I have always been convinced that collaboration and relationships are essential for growth — not only among women, but more broadly, including on a professional level.

I regularly consult with my female colleagues, and I do so gladly, because there is a shared foundation — including common challenges — yet we are also different, and diverse perspectives are always valuable for everyone.

One "hard truth" or piece of advice for young women entering the legal profession today?

Finding the right balance is not easy, and there is a risk of seeming rigid, but asserting oneself and refusing the usual workplace flattery — while being recognized as true professionals — is possible.