A Conversation with Vida Grace Serrano, Senior Associate
On International Women’s Day, we launch our Women in Law series with a conversation featuring Vida Grace Serrano, Senior Associate in the firm’s Corporate and Commercial practice. Through this series, we aim to provide a space for thoughtful reflection on the evolving role of women in the legal profession and the experiences that shape their careers.
Could you briefly describe your current role and area of practice at the firm?
I am a Senior Associate with the firm’s Corporate and Commercial practice. I joined the firm in 2011 and have been supporting key clients across industries on legal and regulatory matters involving contracts, commercial transactions, investments, market entry, compliance, among others.
What inspired you to pursue a career in law?
I have always been passionate about the pursuit of justice and fairness, particularly coming from an emerging part of Asia where access to opportunity is not always guaranteed. From an early age, I believed that a career in law would allow me to make a meaningful impact.
For me, law is more than a profession. It is a way to help people, solve problems and contribute to positive change. The opportunity to work across cultures and collaborate with talented professionals around the world ultimately shaped my decision to pursue this path.
Can you share a key moment or experience that shaped your professional journey?
I have many moments and experiences that shaped my professional journey. I would consider having key mentors and senior lawyers who have supported me to be highly instrumental to get me to where I am right now. I have been given the trust and confidence in many situations by my mentors and colleagues that allowed me to step up and deliver when it matters.
What do you enjoy most about working in your area of practice?
What I enjoy most is the diversity of clients and matters. No two situations are ever the same which keeps the work both challenging and engaging. I value the opportunity to provide advice that is not only legally sound but also commercially practical.
Practising law in the UAE is particularly exciting because of the evolving legal landscape. It motivates me to stay current and continuously develop my knowledge so I can guide clients with clarity and confidence.
Have you faced any particular challenges during your career, and how did you overcome them?
There are always challenges being encountered and such are too many to mention. However, I have always approached each challenge as a problem to be solved along with the support and guidance of highly experienced lawyers around me and the dedication of my own team. The law profession is also a “Client first” profession. By keeping the client’s interests first and foremost, we are able to overcome challenges by maintaining focus on the client’s needs first.
What skills or qualities do you believe are most important for success in the legal profession today?
Given developments in technology, globalization and overall pace of human development, the legal profession must only adapt to ever changing times. However, I believe the skills and qualities most important for success remain rooted in the fundamentals of legal practice. These include strategic thinking, identifying the key issues from all different angles, generating multiple options and potential solutions and understanding the client well enough to be able to recommend the best way forward through thoughtful and considerate legal advice.
What advice would you offer to women considering a career in law?
To not be intimidated by the profession. I believe many women immediately exclude themselves from pursuing law given its image in the media as a hard charging. However, women bring valuable perspectives and strengths that enrich legal practice. I would encourage them to trust their voices, embrace their individuality and recognise that their contributions truly matter.
How do you maintain balance between professional responsibilities and personal life?
There is really no balance for women lawyers when it comes to professional and personal lives. Women lawyers are expected to both juggle the demands and expectations of a successful professional and personal life. However, what I find that helps is by being able to shift focus and attention as required on either area, women can advance both together. This can only be possible if women lawyers are in a supportive environment with very supportive mentors and colleagues.
What does being part of a diverse legal team mean to you?
Working with colleagues from different backgrounds and experiences creates a richer environment for collaboration and innovation. It is through these diverse set of skills and experiences that we can all come together to bring about new and creative legal solutions and insights to our clients.
Vida, thank you for speaking with us and sharing your experience. It has been a pleasure.
Thank you. I am grateful for the opportunity to share my experiences as part of this Women in Law series and to contribute to the broader conversation about the evolving role of women in the legal field.
To connect with Vida Grace Serrano or learn more about her work in the firm’s Corporate and Commercial practice, please contact her on vida@alsuwaidi.ae.