Best Use of Technology in ESG 

This award recognises the innovative and effective use of technology to advance ESG-related legal work, improve professional practice or deliver meaningful environmental or social benefits. Eligible initiatives may include the use of AI, legal technology, data analytics, digital platforms or other technological solutions to address ESG challenges. Judges will look for evidence of innovation, practical application, measurable benefits and the potential for wider adoption. Entries should demonstrate how the tech has addressed a specific need and the impact it has achieved, rather than focusing solely on the tech itself.

Business and Human Rights Team of the Year

This category recognises the best law firm advisory team advising clients on business and human rights work. Judges will be looking for evidence of involvement in the most high profile, innovative or complex human rights matters.

Clean Energy Team of the Year

This category recognises the best law firm advisory team working in the clean energy space. Judges will be looking for evidence of involvement in the most innovative or complex clean energy work, and will consider work across the whole spectrum of practice areas.

Environmental Protection Team of the Year

This category recognises the best law firm advisory team working on environmental protection matters. Judges will be looking for evidence of involvement in the most innovative or complex environmental protection work, and will be considering work across the whole spectrum of practice areas.

ESG Deal Team of the Year

This category recognises the law firm advisory team that has delivered outstanding work on an ESG-driven transaction, or a series of related transactions for a single client. Eligible work may include M&A, joint ventures, financing transactions and other deals in which environmental, social or governance considerations are central to the mandate. Judges will look for evidence of significant or high-profile transactions, the complexity and innovation of the legal advice, and the team’s contribution to achieving the transaction’s ESG objectives. Entries may cover any area of the ESG landscape.

ESG Disputes Team of the Year

This category recognises the law firm team that has delivered outstanding work on an ESG-related dispute. Eligible matters may include group litigation, individual claims, regulatory proceedings, investigations, arbitration and other contentious matters, acting for claimants, defendants or other parties. Judges will look for evidence of significant or high-profile matters, the complexity and novelty of the issues involved, the quality and impact of the legal strategy, and the team’s contribution to addressing the ESG

issues at the heart of the dispute. Entries may cover any area of the ESG landscape.

ESG Regulatory and Compliance Team of the Year        

This category recognises the best law firm advisory team advising clients on ESG regulation and compliance. Judges will be looking for evidence of, creative, innovative and groundbreaking thinking for significant clients, and will consider work across the whole spectrum of ESG matters.

Sustainable Finance Team of the Year

This category recognises the best law firm advisory team working in the sustainable finance space. Judges will be looking for evidence of involvement in the most innovative or complex sustainable finance deals.

DE&I: Initiative of the Year

This award will go to the best diversity & inclusion initiative by a law firm, chambers or in-house legal team.

DE&I: Champion of the Year

This category will acknowledge a truly standout individual for their contribution to diversity and inclusion in the legal profession, covering private practice, the Bar and in-house.

DE&I: Rising Star of the Year

This category will acknowledge a truly standout rising star for their contribution to diversity and inclusion within the legal profession, covering private practice, in-house and the Bar.

DE&I: Team of the Year

This award recognises an outstanding diversity, equity and inclusion team within a law firm, chambers or in-house legal function. Judges will look for evidence of the team’s role creating effective initiatives to promote inclusion, and improve the DE&I experience of its people. Entries should demonstrate meaningful engagement across the firm, including participation from colleagues and senior leadership where relevant, as well as evidence of the initiative's impact. This may include measurable progress against DE&I objectives, improvements in employee experience or other demonstrable outcomes.

Disability/Neurodiversity: Initiative of the Year

This category is awarded to the best initiative intended to boost disability/neurodiversity representation and inclusion; spanning both visible and invisible disability/neurodiversity within law firms, chambers or in-house legal teams. Submissions are open to UK law firms, international firms operating in the UK, in-house legal teams and the Bar. Submissions should demonstrate a targeted strategy and evidence of results to boost representation of disabled/neurodiverse individuals within the legal profession.

Disability/Neurodiversity: Champion of the Year

This category acknowledges truly exceptional individual contributions to improving disability/neurodiversity inclusion within the legal

profession, across private practice, in-house and the Bar and all levels of seniority, covering both lawyers and non-legal staff. Judges will be looking for evidence of involvement in/leadership of key initiatives to boost representation of disabled/neurodiverse lawyers or involvement in broader industry-wide initiatives.

Ethnicity: Initiative of the Year

This will be awarded to the best initiative intended to attract lawyers of colour at a graduate/junior level and/or to retain them to

take on more senior roles. Submissions are open to UK firms and international firms operating in the UK, as well as in-house legal teams and The Bar. Submissions should demonstrate a targeted strategy and evidence of results.

Ethnicity: Champion of the Year

This category acknowledges exceptional individual contributions to boosting representation of lawyers of colour within the legal profession, covering private practice, in-house and the Bar, and all levels of seniority. Judges will be looking for evidence of involvement/leadership of key initiatives to attract and retain ethnic minority lawyers within the profession or involvement in broader, industry-wide initiatives.

Environmental/Sustainability: Initiative of the Year

This will be awarded to the most impressive project/effort to improve sustainability within a law firm, chambers, organisation or the wider legal profession. Submissions should demonstrate a targeted strategy to improve environmental sustainability and, if possible, include evidence of results.

Environmental/Sustainability: Champion of the Year

This category acknowledges truly exceptional individual contributions to improving sustainability and environmental awareness within the legal profession, covering private practice, in-house and the Bar. It is open to individuals of all levels of seniority, and to both lawyers and business services staff. Judges will be looking for evidence of involvement in/leadership of key initiatives to boost sustainability either within the organisation or the wider legal industry.

ESG: Bar Champion of the Year

This category will acknowledge a truly standout individual at the Bar for their contribution to ESG. Submissions are welcomed for this category; nominees may also be drawn from entrants to other categories.

ESG: Bar Initiative of the Year

This award will go to the best overall ESG initiative at the Bar. Submissions are welcomed for this category; nominees may also be drawn from entrants to other categories.

ESG: In-house Champion of the Year

This category will acknowledge a truly standout in-house individual for their contribution to ESG. Submissions are welcomed for this category; nominees may also be drawn from entrants to other categories.

ESG: In-house Initiative of the Year

This award will go to the best overall ESG initiative by an in-house legal team. Submissions are welcomed for this category; nominees may also be drawn from entrants to other categories.

ESG Mentor of the Year

This award recognises an outstanding mentor who has made a meaningful contribution to the development, progression and success of others working in the ESG field. Open to lawyers and business services staff across private practice, in-house and and the Bar, judges will look for evidence of a sustained commitment to mentoring, the quality of guidance and support provided, and the positive impact on mentees’ professional development, confidence, skills or career progression.

ESG: Private Practice Champion of the Year

This category will acknowledge a truly standout private practice individual for their contribution to ESG. Submissions are welcomed for this category; nominees may also be drawn from entrants to other categories.

ESG: Private Practice Initiative of the Year

This award will go to the best overall ESG initiative by a law firm. Submissions are welcomed for this category; nominees may also be drawn from entrants to other categories.

ESG: Rising Star of the Year

This category will acknowledge a truly standout rising star for their contribution to one or more aspect of ESG, covering private practice, in-house and the Bar. Submissions are welcomed for this category; nominees may also be drawn from entrants to other categories.

ESG Training & Education Initiative of the Year

This award is open to private practice, in-house and the Bar and recognises the best ESG training & education initiative of the year. This could include training for lawyers or business services staff across the entire ESG spectrum.

ESG: Law Firm of the Year

This award recognises the law firm that has demonstrated outstanding commitment to ESG across its internal strategy and operations. Judges will look for evidence of a clear and credible ESG strategy, meaningful progress against stated objectives, effective governance and accountability, and initiatives that deliver demonstrable benefits. Entries may cover environmental sustainability, social responsibility, DE&I, responsible business practices and the firm’s contribution to the wider ESG landscape. Judges will consider the breadth and depth of the firm’s achievements, the extent to which ESG is embedded in its culture and decision-making, and the evidence of sustained impact. Please note this award does not recognise client facing ESG work. Entries for this category are welcome, although some firms may be shortlisted here based on an assessment of the combined evidence provided in submissions for other categories, as well as any relevant publicly available information.

ESG: Client Partner of the Year

This category recognises the individual lawyer who received the strongest client endorsements in Legal 500’s ESG research during 2025. It is not open to submissions.

ESG: Client Service Firm of the Year

This category recognises the law firm ESG practice that received the highest client service scores in Legal 500’s research during

2025. It is not open to submissions.

Green Ambassador of the Year

This category recognises the standout individual from the Legal 500’s Green Ambassadors research in 2025. Legal 500 Green Ambassadors are private practice lawyers across a range of specialisms who lead client work that supports decarbonisation and the green transition.

LGBTQ+: Champion of the Year

This category acknowledges truly exceptional individual contributions to improving LGBTQ+ representation and inclusion within the legal profession, covering private practice, in-house and the Bar, across all levels of seniority. Judges will be looking for evidence of involvement in/leadership of key initiatives to improve representation and inclusion within the profession or involvement in broader industry-wide initiatives.

LGBTQ+: Initiative of the Year

This will be awarded to the best project intended to improve LGBTQ+ inclusion within the organisation or wider legal profession. Submissions are open to UK firms, international firms operating in the UK, in-house legal teams and The Bar.

Social Mobility Champion of the Year

This category acknowledges truly exceptional individuals who are dedicated to improving social mobility within the legal profession, covering private practice, in-house and the Bar, across all levels of seniority, and is open to both lawyers and non-lawyers. Judges will be looking for evidence of involvement in/leadership of key initiatives to boost representation or involvement in broader industry-wide initiatives.

Social Mobility Initiative of the Year

This will be awarded to the best project intended to boost social mobility within the organisation or the wider legal profession by attracting and retaining talented lawyers from less privileged backgrounds. Open to private practice, in-house and the Bar, submissions should demonstrate a targeted strategy to boost social mobility and, if possible, include evidence of results.

Internal Support Network of the Year

This category acknowledges networks that make truly exceptional contributions to supporting lawyers and/or business support staff within law firms, the Bar and in-house legal teams, across all levels of seniority. Judges will be looking for evidence of initiatives to improve representation and inclusion within an organisation across any aspect of DE&I, including disability, neurodiversity, mental health, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, and social mobility.

Mental Health & Wellbeing Initiative of the Year

This award is open to the Bar, law firms and in-house legal teams. It will go to the best initiative aimed at boosting mental health and well being in the organisation or across a group of organisations

Pro Bono Initiative of the Year

This award is open to pro bono initiatives across private practice, in-house and the Bar, recognising leadership, impact and significance.

Women in Law: Initiative of the Year

This will be awarded to the best initiative focused on improving the representation of women in senior positions within a law firm, in-house legal team or chambers. Submissions are open to UK firms, international firms operating in the UK, corporates and the Bar. Key factors taken into account will include a clearly defined strategy and demonstrable results.

Women in Law: Champion of the Year

This category acknowledges truly exceptional individual contributions to boosting female representation in the profession, with nominees drawn from private practice, the Bar and in-house. Submissions are welcomed from UK and international law firms, chambers and companies operating in the UK, but contenders do not have to be lawyers, and can be from all levels of seniority. Judges will be looking for evidence of involvement/leadership of key initiatives or broader efforts within the profession.

Lifetime Achievement Award

This category will acknowledge a truly exceptional individual for their long-term contribution to at least one aspect of ESG over the course of their career. Submissions are welcomed for this category.