Dana Denis-Smith is an award-winning entrepreneur, equality advocate, TEDx speaker, and philanthropist.
She regularly speaks at events and in the media on gender equality, entrepreneurship, and legal technology. Her leadership and contributions to the legal profession have earned her several accolades, including Legal Personality of the Year (2018), Outstanding Achievement in Legal Services (2019), and the Special Contribution Award at the 2020 Women in Law Awards. She also holds honorary doctorates in laws from the Universities of Worcester and Glasgow.
Dana is the CEO of Obelisk Support, founded in 2010 to provide flexible legal solutions to FTSE100 companies and law firms by engaging lawyers needing remote or flexible working arrangements. Obelisk is known for its innovative, “human-first” approach, promoting work-life balance while retaining top legal talent. It has been highly commended for ‘Law Company of the Year’ at the 2022 Lawyer Awards, won Supplier of the Year at the 2020 Women in Law Awards, and earned B Corporation certification in 2023. In 2024, Dana spearheaded the launch of Obelisk’s returner programme, helping lawyers re-enter the workforce after career breaks through mentorship from lawyers, General Counsels, and coaches.
In 2014, Dana founded the First 100 Years campaign to celebrate a century of women in the legal profession, later evolving into the Next 100 Years, focusing on the future of women in law. In 2024, to mark the charity’s 10th anniversary, she launched the #PavingTheWay campaign to raise £100,000. Starting in 2025, the fund will support 30 scholars from non-Russell Group universities who are researching women’s legal history.
Dana’s commitment to diversity led to the 2024 “Diversity, Inclusion and Law” report, produced by Obelisk Support and Next 100 Years and launched at the House of Lords to celebrate progress in advancing diversity within the legal profession.
Beyond her legal work, Dana serves on the advisory group for Future Talent, a UK charity supporting young musicians from low-income backgrounds. She is also a dedicated mentor and public speaker, inspiring young people, especially girls, through talks at schools and events such as The Young Lawyers Symposium. Dana also mentors at the Saïd Business School, University of Oxford, supporting the development of entrepreneurialism and purpose-driven leadership within talented and committed students.
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