Arthur Cox and A&L Goodbody (ALG) have both won prizes at the Legal Benchmarking Group’s Social Impact EMEA Awards 2024.

Arthur Cox was named ‘Ethnic Minority Advocacy Firm of the Year’ at a ceremony in London last week (12 September).

ALG took the prize for ‘Improving Access Programme of the Year’.

McCann FitzGerald LLP was named Anti-Discrimination Firm of the Year in Europe.

The firm was also shortlisted for its work in ethnic minority advocacy.

The awards recognise leading law firms and figures from across Europe, the Middle East, and Africa for action taken towards building a more diverse and inclusive legal profession and broader social impact.

Managing partner Stephen Holst said: “Creating a collaborative and inclusive environment to empower our people to achieve their goals and assist them in their development is one of our key priorities.  

“We serve our clients best as a team which brings different perspectives and experiences to the table and we aim to celebrate and encourage diversity in all its forms.”

The awards aim to recognise the significant strides that firms across Europe, Middle East, and Africa have taken towards building a more diverse and inclusive legal profession.

Mentorship programmes

Arthur Cox said that the award recognised the work of the firm’s race and ethnicity committee EMBRACE – including initiatives such as a mentorship programme for university students from minority groups and a reverse-mentoring programme that gives senior leaders in the firm an opportunity to listen to the experiences of mentees from diverse backgrounds.

ALG’s social-mobility programmes include access initiatives aimed at helping those from lower socio-economic backgrounds to study law, and Career LEAP, a work training programme for young people from marginalised backgrounds.

“This accolade underscores our commitment to fostering inclusivity within the legal profession,” said ALG managing partner David Widger.