Partner Bernadette Accili Promotes Diversity and Inclusion at "ELLE Active!"

November 05, 2016

In partnership with UniCredit Bank, Elle Italia Magazine launched "Elle Active!", a program dedicated to diversity, inclusion, access to opportunities, and the advancement of women in the workplace. The program included a two-day event filled with conferences, meetings with stakeholders, coaching sessions, and roundtables with representatives from the Italian government and global companies.

Tax partner Bernadette Accili was invited to develop a proposal on providing tax relief. Developed with a Paul Hastings team, Bernadette presented her proposals for VAT tax exemption for revenues up to €30,000 (and tax relief for other levels) for small businesses and sole practitioners, and an exemption from withholding taxes for those getting credit from crowdfunding platforms. The proposals aim to encourage and support women establishing their own businesses, and undertaking crowdfunding when banks are reluctant to lend, while maintaining appropriate work-life balances after many are forced to leave the workforce during pregnancy. The proposals are likely to be put forward for adoption as a new Italian law.

Other panellists included Emma Bonino, former Foreign Affairs Minister and President of WE Women Empower the World; Tito Boeri, economist and President of the Italian Welfare Agency; Giuseppe Sala, Mayor of Milan; and Monica Parrella, Director of the Equal Opportunities Department of the Prime Minister’s Office.

For additional information (in Italian) and a video of the event, click here.