The Global Legal Post has launched the Women & Diversity in Law Awards to celebrate the achievements of the people, teams and businesses helping to make the UK legal sector more diverse and inclusive.

Nominations are now open for the awards, which will take place in London on 22 March.

The awards set out to recognise those who are dedicating their professional careers to moving the DE&I needle or using their positions of influence to help facilitate change.

They will showcase the role models who are inspiring people from under-represented groups and the initiatives that are making a difference. In so doing they will provide a forum for the sharing of ideas and best practice.

A judging panel is being assembled from across the profession to choose the finalists and winners and inform the awards process. Confirmed judges at this stage include:

• Annabel Dumbell, managing director, litigation and dispute management; global I&D lead,
  Accenture Legal
• Dame Janet Gaymer, board member, Business Banking Resolution Service
• Dana Denis-Smith, founder the First 100 Years, chief executive, Obelisk Support
• Julia Chain, chair, Human Fertilisation & Embryology Authority
• Justin D’Agostino, chief executive, Herbert Smith Freehills
• Lara Oyesanya, group general counsel and company secretary, WorldRemit
• Nankunda Katangaza, director, Hook Tangaza
• Rachel Chan, 42 Bedford Row

Click here to view the judging panel 

The awards process is designed to unearth as diverse a group of people, teams and businesses as possible. Individuals are encouraged to nominate themselves and others across the range of categories. The same applies to legal teams and businesses. Making a nomination could not be more simple, and will only take a few minutes. Click here for more details. 

The deadline for nominations is Friday 23 September. Once all the nominees have been identified, they will be contacted and invited to submit entries. The judges will then select the finalists and winners.

Make a nomination

The awards are divided into two sections. The first part will showcase the inspirational contribution women are making to the profession.

The second section addresses diversity more broadly, seeking to highlight the initiatives and individuals that are making a difference across different strands of diversity, namely: age and life stage; disability; faith; gender equality; LGBT+; mental health and wellbeing; race equality; and social mobility. There is also a category focused on environmental sustainability in recognition of its close relationship with diversity.

View the full list of categories

The awards welcome partnerships with not-for-profit organisations focused on DE&I within the legal profession.

For partnership enquiries, or questions about the awards process, email [email protected].

For sponsorship enquiries contact [email protected].