LEGAL ESG AWARDS UK

Recognizing excellence, innovation and leadership


FINALISTS ANNOUNCED

#LegalESGAwards25

lEGAL esg aWARDS 2025

Celebrating Excellence in Sustainable Law and Ethical Business Leadership

In a world where Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) considerations are paramount, the Legal ESG Awards UK sets the standard for excellence. These awards celebrate the pivotal role of legal professionals in advancing sustainable and ethical business practices.


This year’s expanded categories recognize exemplary client service, impactful initiatives, and employee engagement within law firms and in-house departments. We honor individual leaders as well as collaborative efforts that drive meaningful ESG change.


The Legal ESG Awards UK highlight the significant influence of legal experts in creating a responsible business landscape and challenge the profession to innovate and lead in integrating ESG principles.


For details on nominations and participation, please contact: contact@insideractice.com.


HOW TO APPLY FOR LEGAL ESG AWARDS UK


For the nomination process, you will need to prepare the following ahead of starting the online submission process:


  1. The Nominator / Your details
  2. The Nominee / Contact Information
  3. The Nominees Details / Criteria Answers
  4. Any Additional Information / 3 Supporting Documents



  • You must complete a separate form for each nomination.
  • The online form must be completed and submitted in one sitting. 
  • To help with that process, we are providing a PDF  of the form to allow you to gather all the information before starting the online process. You can cut and paste from the PDF or a Word document into the online form. 
  • You are also welcome to submit the completed PDF rather than use the online form.

Our Judges

ESG Awards

Jo Summers

Chief Client Officer

Lamp House Strategy

ESG Awards

Partner and Chair of ESG

Clifford Chance

ESG Awards

EU Lawyer & CEDR accredited Mediator, specialist in Business & Human Rights

Edinburgh Law School

ESG Awards

Daniel Cash

Credit Rating Research Specialist, Associate & Professor

Aston University

ESG Awards

Climate Change Policy Adviser

The Law Society

ESG Awards

Corporate Governance expert, iNED, IDP-C

Drilton LTD

ESG Awards

Carla Parsons

Senior Associate

Mills and Reeve

ESG Awards

Chris Cayley

Working with Law Firms To Recruit General Counsel, Directors of Risk & Compliance and Other Senior Risk & Compliance Professionals

Cyan Partners

LAW FIRM AWARD CATEGORIES

LAW FIRM ESG PRACTICE / CLIENT SERVICE AWARD

This award celebrates a law firm that has excelled in delivering client services with a strong focus on ESG principles. It acknowledges the firm's efforts to incorporate ESG considerations into client advice, transactions, and litigation practices, setting a benchmark for ESG excellence in service clients of the legal profession.

LAW FIRM ESG INTERNAL OPERATIONS AWARD

This award recognizes the law firm with exceptional commitment to sustainable business practices. It honours the integration of environmental, social, and governance (ESG) principles into the firm's purpose, strategy and operations, reflecting a dedication to responsible business conduct and a sustainable approach to legal practice.

LAW FIRM ESG SINGLE INITIATIVE AWARD 

This award is presented to the law firm that exemplifies outstanding ESG leadership in the development of and implementation of a single ESG initiative. It recognizes innovative approaches to identifying, developing and implementing a single ESG initiative which is material and core to the business strategy.

OUTSTANDING LAW FIRM ESG LEADER AWARD 

Given the key role which law firms play in guiding and advising their clients’ ESG strategies, it is crucial that their law firms are setting the example.  It takes an ESG leader within the law firm to ensure the firm is “walking the talk” as well as advising their clients on ESG.  This award recognizes as exemplary law firm ESG Leader.


Sponsored by

Clarasight

EMPLOYEE ENGAGEMENT

This award recognized the greater impact achieved through engaging the firm's employees in ESG initiatives and programs.



IN-HOUSE AWARD CATEGORIES 

LEGAL ESG AWARDS 2025

  • IN-HOUSE LEGAL DEPARTMENT ESG PROGRAM AWARD

    This award is presented to an in-house legal department or team that exemplifies outstanding ESG leadership within and throughout their organization. It recognizes innovative approaches to embedding and operationalizing ESG criteria in corporate strategies, risk management, and compliance, showcasing the pivotal role of the Legal Department in steering the corporate ESG agenda. 

Sponsored by

PARTNERSHIP / COLLABORATION CATEGORIES 

LEGAL ESG AWARDS 2025

  • LAW FIRM / CLIENT ESG COLLABORATION AWARD

    NEW CATEGORY

    This award will go to those who can demonstrate meaningful and material collaboration between law firms and their client(s) toward a more sustainable, just and equitable society.  Together, we can accomplish greater success.    

OVERALL AWARD CATEGORIES 

LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD

This prestigious award recognizes an individual who has demonstrated a lifelong commitment to ESG principles within the legal profession. It celebrates their enduring impact, leadership, and mentorship, reflecting a career that fosters ethical, social, and environmental responsibility in law.


Sponsored by

Clarasight

PROFESSOR PAUL WATCHMAN / YOUNG LAWYER OF THE YEAR AWARD 

Named in honour of Professor Paul Watchman, this award celebrates a young lawyer who embodies his passion for ESG law and the development of future legal leaders. In collaboration with his daughter Carla Parsons, Senior Associate at Mills & Reeve, this award recognizes a young legal professional who shows exceptional promise in driving ESG initiatives and shaping the future of responsible legal practice.

LEGAL ESG AWARDS: 2024  WINNERS

On Wednesday, 19th June 2024, we had the privilege of honouring the outstanding individuals and organizations recognized for their exceptional leadership, innovation, and contributions to Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) practices across the legal profession.

Thank you to our incredible panel of judges for lending their time and expertise, to all of our partners for their support Greenplaces, Accenture, Red-Inc, Clyde & Co, and to our hosts and the incredible team at Clifford Chance.

TIMELINE

18 FEBRUARY

NOMINEE SUBMISSION OPENS

The submission process opens on 18th February

9 MAY

NOMINEE SUBMISSION DEADLINE

All submissions must be completed no later than 18th April

 MAY

FIRST ROUND JUDGING

Our esteemed Judges will review and assess each submission through April and May based on the award criteria and announce the finalists of each award category on 29th April

MAY

FINALISTS ANNOUNCED

Our esteemed Judges will review and assess each submission through April and May based on the award criteria and announce the finalists of each award category on 1st May.

16 May

SECOND ROUND JUDGING

With our finalists set, our judging panels will review, score, and determine this year's recipients. 

8 July

AWARDS DINNER 

The award recipients of each category will be announced at the Legal ESG: Awards / UK. The dinner you will hear from the recipients, judges and guest speakers, network with your peers, and celebrate and recognize outstanding contributions to ESG. 

Awards Dinner


The award recipients of each category will be announced on 8th July as part of Legal ESG London, which will take place at the London offices of Addleshaw Goddard.



Address

60 Chiswell St

London

EC1Y 4AG

United Kingdom

Coming Soon

TORONTO 5/7/2025

Legal ESG:  Toronto

LONDON 07//8/9//2025

Legal ESG:  London

PARIS 25/11/2025

Legal ESG:  Europe