*The awards are open to firms operating in the UK including those in the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man.

Law Firm of the Year – Large Firms

Open to top 100 UK law firms and the UK arms of international law firms with a substantial presence in the UK (more than 50 staff). The winner will demonstrate to the judges an exemplary commitment to promoting gender diversity in the UK both within the workplace and to the wider community. The judges will be looking for a unique and imaginative programme that sets out to achieve a step change in the firm’s diversity record. The winners must be able to provide hard evidence of progress in achieving their goals.

Law Firm of the Year – Small to Medium

Open to UK law firms outside the top 100. The winners will demonstrate to the judges an exemplary commitment to promoting gender diversity both within the workplace and to the wider community. The judges will be looking for a unique and imaginative programme that sets out to achieve a step change in the firm’s diversity record. The winners must be able to provide hard evidence of progress in achieving their goals.

Legal Department of the Year

Open to UK-based legal departments. The winners will demonstrate to the judges an exemplary commitment to promoting gender diversity both within the workplace and to the wider community. The judges will be looking for unique, imaginative and effective programmes that set out to transform the department’s diversity record. The winners must be able to provide hard evidence of progress in achieving their goals.

Supplier of the Year

Open to suppliers to the legal sector. The winners will demonstrate to the judges an exemplary commitment to promoting gender diversity both within the workplace and to the wider community. The judges will be looking for unique, imaginative and effective programmes that set out to transform the company’s diversity record. The winners must be able to provide hard evidence of progress in achieving their goal.

Gender Diversity Project of the Year

Open to all functions within UK-based law firms, legal departments and suppliers, this category focuses on a single project or initiative that has successfully improved gender diversity within the business or wider community. The judges will be looking to reward innovative, practical projects that will inspire other teams to implement similar schemes. The winners must be able to provide hard evidence of progress in achieving their goals.

Diversity Project of the Year

This category champions other types of diversity aside from gender diversity and is open to all functions within UK-based law firms, legal departments and suppliers. Submissions must focus on a single project or initiative that has achieved demonstrable success. The judges will be looking to recognise innovative and practical projects with the capacity to inspire other teams to implement similar schemes. 

Woman of the Year

Open to women whose overall achievements and work within the UK legal profession have helped raise the profile of the sector as a career for women either through education, training, leadership, mentoring or acting as a role model. The award is open to all roles and the nominee must be able to demonstrate influence in attracting and/or retaining women into the sector.

Male Diversity Champion of the Year

Open to men working within the UK legal profession in any capacity who not only mentor women but who champion diversity within the industry. The winner will be a role model and leader, and someone who has used his position to help set up initiatives and spread positive messages aimed at helping to achieve equality in the workplace and across the market.

Law Firm Leader of the Year

The winner of this award will be an exceptional law firm leader. The judges will recognise a woman who has played a leading role in her firm’s drive to secure diversity, inclusion and social responsibility at all levels. She will go above and beyond to help members of her team and will be well known for her commitment to promoting equality on behalf of her law firm.

General Counsel of the Year

Open to women in general counsel or similar roles. The winner of this award will be an exceptional lawyer and business leader. The judges will recognise a woman who has played a leading role in her department’s initiatives to secure diversity, inclusion and social responsibility at all levels. She will go above and beyond to help members of her team and will be well known for her commitment to promoting equality both internally and to the wider business community.

Entrepreneur of the Year

Entrepreneur in this sense isn't necessarily a business founder, it could mean someone who has created a new business unit or other group within a larger organisation. This award will be given to the woman who best demonstrates the success, both current and potential, of her idea.

Mentor of the Year

Open to women and men in the UK legal profession who have helped inspire women to fulfil their true potential and achieve excellence in the workplace. The winner will have a proven track record helping women to rise through to senior leadership positions. This category is applicable to women and men working in any capacity in law firms, in-house legal departments as well as for suppliers to the legal market.

Outstanding Returner of the Year

Open to women and men who can provide an inspirational example of returning successfully to any role within the legal sector, highlighting both personal commitment and drive as well as the contribution made by the returner’s employer. Career breaks may have been due to maternity leave or any form of long term absence such as illness or a sabbatical.

Barrister/Advocate of the Year

Open to barristers, Scottish advocates and solicitor advocates. The winner will have achieved exceptional results for her clients, thereby inspiring the next generation of women advocates to reach their full potential. The judges will be looking for evidence of technical legal excellence, innovation, leadership and client satisfaction as well as a commitment to promoting the highest ethical and professional standards. A demonstrable contribution to corporate social responsibility, including diversity, is also essential.

Dealmaker of the Year

Open to lawyers in private practice advising on corporate deals in fields including M&A, banking and capital markets. The winner will have achieved exceptional results for her clients, thereby inspiring the next generation of women dealmakers to reach their full potential. The judges will be looking for evidence of technical legal excellence, innovation, leadership and client satisfaction as well as a commitment to promoting the highest ethical and professional standards. A demonstrable contribution to corporate social responsibility, including diversity, is essential.

Legal Adviser of the Year

Open to lawyers in private practice providing non-transactional advice, including in the fields of litigation, employment and regulatory law. The winner will have achieved exceptional results for her clients, thereby inspiring the next generation of women to reach their full potential. The judges will be looking for evidence of technical legal excellence, innovation, leadership and client satisfaction as well as a commitment to promoting the highest ethical and professional standards. A demonstrable contribution to corporate social responsibility, including diversity, is essential.

Litigator of the Year

Open to litigators. The winner will have achieved exceptional results for her clients, thereby inspiring the next generation of women to reach their full potential. The judges will be looking for evidence of technical legal excellence, innovation, leadership and client satisfaction as well as a commitment to promoting the highest ethical and professional standards. A demonstrable contribution to corporate social responsibility, including diversity, is essential.

In-house Lawyer of the Year

Open to in-house lawyers. The winner will have achieved exceptional results for her employer, thereby inspiring the next generation of women in-house lawyers to reach their full potential. The judges will be looking for evidence of technical legal excellence, innovation, leadership and client satisfaction as well as a commitment to promoting the highest ethical and professional standards. A demonstrable contribution to corporate social responsibility, including diversity, is essential.

Legal Services Innovator of the Year

Open to women working within the legal services market in non-practising leadership roles including in the fields of finance, operations, HR, IT, sales, marketing and business development. The winner will have achieved exceptional results for her employer or its clients, thereby inspiring the next generation of women in similar roles to reach their full potential. The judges will be looking for evidence of innovation, leadership and client satisfaction as well as a commitment to promoting the highest ethical and professional standards. A demonstrable contribution to corporate social responsibility, including diversity, is essential.

Rising Star – Private Practice Lawyer of the Year

Open to women lawyers in private practice who have made a strong impact in a short space or time and are most likely to become the stars of the future. There is no age limit, but nominees must have worked as lawyers for less than five years on 1 January 2020. The judges will be looking for evidence of technical legal excellence, innovation, leadership potential and client satisfaction. A demonstrable contribution to corporate social responsibility, including diversity, is essential.

Rising Star – In-house Lawyer of the Year

Open to women in-house lawyers who have made a strong impact in a short space or time and are most likely to become the stars of the future. There is no age limit, but nominees must have worked as lawyers for less than five years on 1 January 2020. The judges will be looking for evidence of technical legal excellence, innovation, leadership potential and client satisfaction. A demonstrable contribution to corporate social responsibility, including diversity, is essential.

Rising Star – Barrister/Advocate of the Year

Open to women barristers, Scottish advocates or solicitor advocates who have made a strong impact in a short space or time and are most likely to become the stars of the future. There is no age limit, but nominees must have worked as lawyers for less than five years on 1 January 2020. The judges will be looking for evidence of technical legal excellence, innovation, leadership potential and client satisfaction. A demonstrable contribution to corporate social responsibility, including diversity, is essential.

Rising Star - Legal Services Innovator

Open to women working within the legal services market in non-practising roles including in the fields of finance, operations, HR, IT, sales, marketing and business development. There is no age limit, but nominees must have worked in the profession - or in a similar capacity in other markets - for less than five years on 1 January 2020. The judges will be looking for evidence of technical legal excellence, innovation, leadership potential and client satisfaction. A demonstrable contribution to corporate social responsibility, including diversity, is essential.

Unsung Hero

The winner of this category will be someone her colleagues regard as indispensable to the business, but whose hard graft often goes unnoticed. This could be championing a person or idea, rescuing a failing project, or going the extra mile to help others. Open to women in non-practising roles within the legal services market.

Sustainability Champion of the Year

Open to women who are able to demonstrate the biggest positive impact on their organisation's sustainability agenda. This could be through leading sustainability projects or initiatives, devising and enforcing new sustainability focused processes, or some other means. Judges will be looking for evidence of organisational improvement compared with previous years. Open to law firms, in house functions and suppliers to the legal services market.