The 2024 Women and Diversity in Law Awards, which took place in London on Wednesday (13 March) and were hosted by The Global Legal Post, celebrated the achievements of individuals, teams, businesses and not-for-profit organisations helping to further diversity, equity and inclusion (DE&I) within the legal profession. Click here to find out who won what and why, or read on for a selection of photographs from a night of celebration and camaraderie.

The evening closed with an opportunity for all the winning and highly commended individuals and teams to gather on stage to celebrate together.

The work of LawCare, the charity partner for the evening, was introduced by outgoing trustee and treasurer Helen Whiteman (above). “The LawCare vision is of a legal community that values good mental health and wellbeing, where people thrive,” said Whiteman, who is chief executive of the Chartered Institute of Taxation. “We are working with our partners across the community to challenge the stigma that makes it hard for people in the legal sector to admit they are struggling and seek help. We want to see more focus during legal education and training on understanding the importance of good mental health to better prepare for life in practice. We want to see legal practices creating mentally healthy workplaces where staff can be at their best. And we want to work with the legal community to support diverse workplaces where people thrive.”

The evening’s proceedings were overseen by actress Natalie Gumede (above), who captivated the audience with an account of how she surmounted the obstacles she faced “growing up bi-racial in 80s and 90s Lancashire” to successfully pursue an acting career despite the challenge of finding her place in a profession in which “very few people looked like me, and the ones who did were pitted against me for a very small number of roles”. She added: “I stand on the shoulders of generations before me, who could only dream of some of the opportunities I’ve had. And it’s my wish that people like me and anybody here who is able, reach out to the next generation after us, and show them how their personal pursuit of success needn’t be as hard as we have found it.”

Barbara Mills KC (above and below) received a standing ovation when she accepted the Lifetime Achievement Award. This year Mills became the first person of colour to take up the post of vice chair of the Bar Council. The leading family law barrister and joint head of chambers at 4 Paper Buildings said: “It is my absolute privilege to accept this award and to be a part of this inspiring community that breathes its every intention to uplift, to value and to include everyone in its bid to create one equitable and fair profession.”

Many members of the 30-strong judging panel presented awards, including Peter Scott (above), Norton Rose Fulbright’s managing partner for Europe, Middle East and Asia. Scott was a member of the City of London’s Socio-Economic Diversity Taskforce, which reported last year. 

Among the awards partners was Ivy & Normanton, the first legal outfitter specialising in court attire for women.

The second half of the evening kicked off with a ‘heads or tails’ game (above) to raise money for LawCare.

Ammaarah Hafezi, of awards partner Byfield Reputation Counsel, presents the Social Mobility Team of the Year Award, which went to Aviva.

For more photographs from the night, click here to view the gallery on The Women and Diversity in Law Awards website.