Legal ESG Awards: Recipients Have Been Announced

We're so excited to present the winners of the Legal ESG Awards 2025.

The Legal ESG Awards 2025 recipients have been announced! These awards celebrate legal professionals leading the way in sustainable and ethical business practices. This year’s expanded categories recognize standout client service, innovative initiatives, and team efforts. The awards highlight the vital role of legal experts in shaping a responsible business landscape and inspiring continued ESG leadership.


LAW FIRM ESG PRACTICE / CLIENT SERVICE AWARD


This award celebrates a law firm that has excelled in delivering client services with a strong focus on ESG principles. It acknowledges the firm's efforts to incorporate ESG considerations into client advice, transactions, and litigation practices, setting a benchmark for ESG excellence in service clients of the legal profession.


🏆 Travers Smith


LAW FIRM INTERNAL OPERATIONS ESG AWARD


This award recognizes the law firm with exceptional commitment to sustainable business practices. It honours the integration of environmental, social, and governance (ESG) principles into the firm's purpose, strategy and operations, reflecting a dedication to responsible business conduct and a sustainable approach to legal practice.

🏆 Shoosmiths


LAW FIRM SINGLE ESG INITIATIVE AWARD

This award is presented to the law firm that exemplifies outstanding ESG leadership in the development of and implementation of a single ESG initiative. It recognizes innovative approaches to identifying, developing and implementing a single ESG initiative which is material and core to the business strategy.

🏆 Clyde & Co


LAW FIRM ESG EMPLOYEE ENGAGEMENT AWARD


This award recognized the greater impact achieved through engaging the firm's employees in ESG initiatives and programs.


🏆 Gowling WLG


LAW FIRM CLIENT ESG COLLABORATION AWARD


This award will go to those who can demonstrate meaningful and material collaboration between law firms and their client(s) toward a more sustainable, just and equitable society. Together, we can accomplish greater success. 


🏆 Freshfields - Save the Children


LAW FIRM OUTSTANDING ESG LEADER AWARD


Sponsored by Clarasight


Given the key role which law firms play in guiding and advising their clients’ ESG strategies, it is crucial that their law firms are setting the example. It takes an ESG leader within the law firm to ensure the firm is “walking the talk” as well as advising their clients on ESG. This award recognizes as exemplary law firm ESG Leader.


🏆 Abhay Srivastava, Weightmans


PAUL WATCHMAN YOUNG LAWYER OF THE YEAR AWARD


Named in honour of Professor Paul Watchman, this award celebrates a young lawyer who embodies his passion for ESG law and the development of future legal leaders. In collaboration with his daughter Carla Parsons, Senior Associate at Mills & Reeve, this award recognizes a young legal professional who shows exceptional promise in driving ESG initiatives and shaping the future of responsible legal practice.


🏆 Ming Zee Tee, Legal Voices of the Future, A&O Shearman


LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD


Sponsored by Clyde & Co


This prestigious award recognizes an individual who has demonstrated a lifelong commitment to ESG principles within the legal profession. It celebrates their enduring impact, leadership, and mentorship, reflecting a career that fosters ethical, social, and environmental responsibility in law.


🏆 Vanessa Harvard-Williams



Although the awards have concluded, we received many exceptional entries, which is truly encouraging. Visit our LinkedIn page to extend your congratulations to the winners!


Looking to enter next year?  Click here to register your interest and we'll let you know when submissions open in 2026.


INSIGHTS:

Sjoerd Kamerbeek – Visionary Managing Partner at Van Doorne | Dutch Legal Leadership.
By Legal ESG August 15, 2025
Discover how Sjoerd Kamerbeek is reshaping the Dutch legal landscape as Managing Partner of Van Doorne and his keynote session at Legal ESG: Benelux.
What to Expect at Legal ESG: Benelux
By Legal ESG: Benelux August 14, 2025
Legal ESG: Benelux is the region’s flagship event dedicated to the evolving intersection of law, sustainability, and corporate responsibility.
At Legal ESG: London, the message from Gihan Hyde was both clear and provocative.
By Legal ESG August 12, 2025
Gihan Hyde emphasized that ESG success is about trust, not just compliance, challenging professionals with two key questions on building genuine ESG value.
What to Expect at Legal ESG: Benelux – 24 Sept, The Hague
By Legal ESG August 6, 2025
What to Expect at Legal ESG: Benelux – 24 Sept, The Hague
Bennett Freeman discusses global crises threatening democracy, Legal ESG Londnn
By Legal ESG August 6, 2025
Bennett Freeman addresses the escalating threats to democracy, accountability, and sustainability at Legal ESG: London, highlighting global legal and governance challenges.
Legal ESG Benelux | Leading Event & Conference for Professionals & Law Firms
By Legal ESG July 23, 2025
Join Legal ESG Benelux, the premier event and conference dedicated to ESG and legal practices for professionals and law firms in the Benelux region.
Inside Legal ESG Podcast, Ming Zee Tee, Environment and Climate Lawyer at A&O Shearman
By Legal ESG July 16, 2025
Climate lawyer Ming Zee Tee (A&O Shearman) shares her journey, co‑founds Legal Voices for the Future, and wins Young Lawyer of the Year—Inside Legal ESG podcast
By BBC March 24, 2023
This article was originally published here
By ESG Today March 22, 2023
This article was originally published here
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