Law Firm Faces Backlash Over Pink Ice-Cream Maker Gifts for International Women's Day
A prominent offshore law firm has sparked controversy by distributing pink ice-cream makers to female lawyers and clients to commemorate International Women's Day. Ian Mann, the managing partner of global legal practice Harneys, publicly announced the company had gifted the domestic appliance for the commemorative occasion.
Corporate Gesture Draws Sharp Criticism
The Cambridge-educated ultra-high net worth disputes lawyer revealed that Japanese-made Toffy machines had been delivered to what he described as "some of our most valued female leaders, friends, clients and colleagues." Mr Mann further disclosed that he had personally "slipped" one of the work-branded ice-cream makers into his bag for a "daddy-daughter activity" with his "sassie girl."
However, his LinkedIn post earlier this month attracted immediate criticism from Guernsey parliament member Sally Rochester. "I was wondering if an upgrade to a Dyson hoover and washing up brush might be offered too," she wrote pointedly. "I know Harney's will be working towards equality in the workplace so why not post about the work you are doing to advance equal participation across your firm and announce your ambition for the coming year? That would be a post I could truly celebrate!"
Defensive Response and Mixed Reactions
Mr Mann responded with a tongue-in-cheek comment, quipping that he was "working on a full house cleaning kit for husbands for Mother's Day next." He then offered a more substantive defense, stating: "Over one-third of our partners are female and seven out of ten global offices are led by women. We have previously been recognised by The Lawyer as being 'the most diverse offshore law firm.'"
The reaction to the gifts was divided. While some recipients thanked him for "the sweetest gift," one female lawyer in Hong Kong commented that it was "the perfect excuse to venture into the kitchen this weekend and whip up some sweet treats with my son!"
Background and Firm's Position
Mr Mann graduated with a law degree from the University of Sheffield in 2003 and describes ultra-high net worth clients as his "sweet spot" on his LinkedIn profile. He joined Harneys in 2008, previously serving as the firm's head of litigation in Hong Kong before becoming managing partner in December 2025. A recent LinkedIn post shows him holding an ice-cream cone while advising people to "go be you, be whatever is your own flavour of choice."
Harneys, which describes itself as offering expert advice on the laws of the British Virgin Islands, the Cayman Islands, Luxembourg, Cyprus, Bermuda, Anguilla, and Jersey, provided an official statement to legal community website RollOnFriday. "We were proud to celebrate International Women's Day across all our offices with each location adopting different approaches to raise awareness about this important day," the firm stated.
"Mindful of the 'give to gain' theme, we held events across the firm including team lunches and sharing cakes and gifts to celebrate the contributions of women across our firm and the wider community. These shared moments reflect our commitment to fostering an inclusive, supportive environment where everyone can thrive and succeed."
The incident highlights ongoing debates about appropriate corporate recognition of International Women's Day and whether traditional gender stereotypes are inadvertently reinforced through well-intentioned but potentially outdated gestures.
