Event Report
Latham & Watkins, A&O Shearman and Womble Bond Dickinson were among the big winners at the Legal 500 UK ESG Awards last night, with 32 awards given out for those advancing sustainability, social mobility and diversity in the legal profession.
This year’s ceremony featured a number of new categories, with wins for Latham and Norton Rose Fulbright (NRF) in categories recognising exceptional client service.
Latham took the award for ESG: Client Service Firm of the Year, as the firm that received the highest client service scores in Legal 500’s ESG research, covering factors such as sector and industry knowledge, lawyer quality and value, billing and efficiency.
NRF disputes partner Stuart Neely won the inaugural ESG: Client Partner of the Year award, as the partner who received the strongest client endorsements in Legal 500’s ESG research. Neely was described by clients as ‘a pleasure to work with,’ with ‘exceptional legal acumen, strong commercial awareness, and steadfast commitment to client service.’
Another of the new awards for 2026 was Green Ambassador of the Year, which was presented to the standout individual from Legal 500’s Green Ambassadors research, which highlights private practice lawyers at the forefront of the green transition.
The prize went to Bates Wells senior counsel David Hunter, a leading authority on helping businesses address climate change and biodiversity loss through corporate operations.
A&O Shearman won two awards on the night, taking home both Best Law Firm Advisory Team: Clean Energy and ESG: Rising Star of the Year.
The rising star award went to associate Ming Zee Tee, a member of the firm’s environmental and climate law group, who is also a co-founder of Legal Voices for the Future, a non-profit which champions young lawyers’ voices on ESG issues.
Womble Bond Dickinson also won two awards, with Sally Dallow, the firm’s partner lead for responsible business, and managing associate Nazmin Akthar named ESG: Private Practice Champion of the Year and DE&I: Rising Star of the Year.
Other winners from LB100 law firms included Freshfields global transactions counsel Reena Parmar, who was named Disability/Neurodiversity: Champion of the Year, while Addleshaw Goddard senior pro bono and inclusion manager Richard Fisk won the award for DE&I: Private Practice Champion of the Year.
Oscar Davies of Garden Court Chambers won the award for LGBTQ+ Champion of the Year, for their work as a fearless advocate for trans and non-binary individuals and other underrepresented communities, both in the courtroom and in public awareness-raising work. This marks the second time they have been recognised at the ESG Awards, after winning the same category in 2024.
The night ended with two Lifetime Achievement awards, presented to HSF Kramer global head of ESG and sustainability Silke Goldberg, and former Browne Jacobson senior partner Caroline Green, the firm’s first-ever female partner, whose leadership has helped to establish the firm as a social mobility leader.