North East law firm Womble Bond Dickinson has been shortlisted in eight categories at the inaugural The Legal 500 ESG UK Awards.

The awards celebrate the very best ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) initiatives across the UK legal market – private practice, in-house and the Bar. This inaugural event will see organisations and individuals recognised for their efforts to bring about change across all aspects of ESG, including diversity and inclusion and environmental and sustainability strategy.

Leading the nominations is a shortlisting in the ESG Firm of the Year category, which was put forward by the judging team behind the awards and is in recognition of the firm's overall excellence across the field of ESG.

Firm-wide, WBD - one of the key partners in The Northern Echo's Level Up campaign for investment and jobs – is shortlisted in the following categories:

  • Best Law Firm Advisory Team: Clean Energy
  • Disability/Neurodiversity: Best Initiative to Attract and Retain Talent

Several individuals from WBD are also shortlisted:

  • Emily Cox - Disability/Neurodiversity: Private Practice Champion
  • Jon Bower - Environmental/Sustainability: Private Practice Champion
  • Michelle Essen - Disability/Neurodiversity: Private Practice Champion
  • Sam Lee - Social Mobility: Private Practice Champion
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The firm's responsible business manager Charlotte von Sicard was also additionally nominated by the judging panel within the ESG Rising Star category, which recognises individuals in the industry who are contributing across various areas of ESG.

WBD, which has offices in Newcastle and Teesside, has always been ahead of the curve when it comes to ESG – an EcoVadis Gold ranking firm, WBD was named ESG Firm of the Year at The Legal 500 Northern Powerhouse Awards in 2023 and was included in The Legal 500's 2024 Green Guide, which highlights the top UK law firms leading the way on climate change, governance, and sustainability.

Paul Stewart, UK Managing Partner of WBD, said: "We are thrilled to be shortlisted in so many categories at The Legal 500 ESG UK Awards, which is a testament to our commitment to ESG. These nominations are the result of a lot of hard work by a huge number of people across the business who are driving positive change and making a difference, and I'd like to personally thank them for the amazing work they do."

The news comes ahead of next month’s The Legal 500 Northern Powerhouse Awards, where Womble Bond Dickinson is once again nominated in several categories including ESG and Diversity and Inclusion Firm of the Year and three of the firm's lawyers have also been shortlisted as leaders in their field.

The Legal 500 ESG UK Awards 2024 take place in London on April 24.