Equality, Diversity and Inclusion

We recognise that a firm which is inclusive and diverse attracts the most talented individuals, who are valued for their ability and performance.

We treat everyone equally and with the same attention, courtesy and respect, regardless of race, sex, pregnancy and maternity, marriage or civil partnership, disability, sexual orientation, religion or belief, age or gender reassignment. 

Wherever possible, we take steps to promote equal opportunity in relation to access to the legal services that we provide, in order to ensure that, subject to funding constraints, our services are accessible to all clients. We are committed to meeting the diverse needs of our clients.

At Dawson Cornwell we consider all employees to be equal and create a working environment which is free from unlawful discrimination. This applies equally to voluntary positions and anyone undertaking work experience with us.

We are signatories to The Law Society’s Diversity & Inclusion Charter and we have a Silver Charter Mark. We have also been awarded a Diversity Aware Charter Mark.

We are proud to be a founding member of Lawyers Who Care, the first legal-specialised organisation in the UK to offer long-term mentoring and opportunities for paid work experience to people with care experience who aspire to be a lawyer. 

Awards & Recognitions

We have been committed to equality and diversity in both our work and in the workplace for many years as demonstrated by the nominations and awards referred to below.

Partner Carolina Marín Pedreño, Sulema Jahangir, Simon Bruce, Forum Shah and senior associate Kate Brett have been included in the inaugural Pro Bono Recognition List 2024. This list recognises solicitors and barristers across England and Wales who have dedicated over 25 hours of their time to pro bono work over the past year, and demonstrates Dawson Cornwell’s commitment to access to justice.

Wendy Ramus was awarded an Unsung Heroes 2023 Award for showing leadership and unity towards tackling Harmful Practices.

Sarah Jane Lenihan is the designated Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) champion of the London Resolution Committee and she was shortlisted for the Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Champion Award at the 2023 Resolution Awards.

Rebecca Taylor is the Secretary of the Equality, Diversity and Inclusion committee of the Westminster and Holborn Law Society.

We were shortlisted for Company of the Year –  Female Leadership (Boutique) at the Citywealth Powerwomen Awards in March 2022.  The Powerwomen Awards is now in its tenth year and was designed in consultation with the London School of Economics to champion women in the wealth sector and highlights the female leaders of today and tomorrow.

We were also shortlisted for Best Employer – Career Progression at the Citywealth Future Leaders Awards 2022. The Future Leader Awards is a programme to champion young professionals and highlight the leaders under forty of today and tomorrow. The philosophy of the contest is to support future leaders who excel at work but who also make an important contribution to society.

Additionally we were shortlisted for the Corporate Award at The Women of the Future Awards 2022.

History

Former senior associate Shabina Begum was named one of the Law Society Legal Heroes 2023. Legal Heroes recognises the solicitors who have made the biggest difference to the lives of others, their local communities and society over the last two years.

Former associate Lina Khanom won an award in the Law (Lynne Freeman Award) category in 2023. The WeAreTheCity Awards focus on the achievements of women representing the female talent pipeline and the next generation of future leaders.

Shabina Begum won in the business category of the Women of the Future Awards 2020 in association with Aviva (4 February 2021).

Kate Allen was shortlisted for the award for Diversity/Gender Positive Role Model of the Year in the Citywealth Magic Circle Awards 2020.

We won the Silver Award for Company of the Year –  Female Leadership (Boutique) at the Citywealth Powerwomen Awards in March 2020.  The Citywealth awards programme champions women in the wealth sector and highlights the female leaders of today and tomorrow, spotlighting individuals and companies who support caregiving responsibilities, female leadership and celebrate diversity.

We were shortlisted as Best Employer – Career Progression LGBT+/inclusion for the Citywealth Future Leaders Awards 2019. The criteria for the award is to demonstrate evidence of leadership and development of LGBT+ and diversity individuals within the organisation, including investment in qualifications.

Our partner, the late Anne-Marie Hutchinson OBE, QC (Hon) was a champion of human rights.  She was a Founding Member of the UK LGBT Family Law Institute and received the British LGBT “Corporate Straight Ally” Award (2014) and an “Albert” award from the Albert Kennedy Trust, in recognition of her work on an international level in defending the human rights of young lesbian, gay, bi-sexual and trans people (2011).

Former partner Colin Rogerson was encouraged and supported to become a Founding Member of the UK LGBT Family Law Institute. He was awarded “Rising Star under 40” by the LGBT Bar Association and the Interlaw Diversity Forum, in recognition of outstanding legal professionals under the age of 40 who have distinguished themselves in their field and demonstrated a profound commitment to LGBT equality (2014).

Sulema Jahangir was named an Unsung Hero by Newsweek Pakistan in 2019.

Shabina Begum was recognised as one of the Top 100 figures on the British Bangladeshi Power and Inspiration List in both 2014 and 2017.