Linklaters named Financial Times’ Top 10 Most Innovative Law Firm
Linklaters is delighted to have been recognised as one of the Financial Times’ top 10 most innovative law firms in Europe and a standout firm in three categories, including multi-disciplinary teams, Diversity & Inclusion and responsible business, at this year’s prestigious FT Innovative Lawyer Awards Europe 2022.
The firm has been recognised for its work on the following innovative projects:
- Practice of Law: Multidisciplinary teams
The firm’s new Mobility sector has been shortlisted for the ‘Practice of Law: Multidisciplinary teams’ category; as it brings together a multidisciplinary group of lawyers with in-depth understanding of the evolving mobility landscape to support clients expanding into new markets, innovating, diversifying products and services, and embracing emerging technologies.
Jessamy Gallagher, Head of Clients and Sectors, supported by fellow corporate partners Chris Staples, Co-Head of the Global Commodities group and Stuart Bedford, Co-Head of the Tech Sector group, was pivotal in creating the Mobility sector practice after noticing a growth in opportunities. Jessamy commenting on the launch of the sector, stated:
“The world is changing rapidly and so are the needs of our clients. We are therefore excited to announce our transition into a broader, more innovative and future-looking Mobility sector. This reset is driven by major dynamics like the transition to electric, alternative fuelled and tech-enabled vehicles and the significant changes in transportation in the context of climate change, digitisation, and energy transition. This new sector will allow us to re-imagine the global mobility market, providing strategic advice across the world for our clients at the cutting-edge of existing and emerging global industries.”
- People and Skills: D&I
Going Forward is a one-of-a-kind training programme for refugees and asylum seekers interested in pursuing a career in law and has been shortlisted in the ‘Diversity and inclusion’ category. Participants benefit from webinars designed to build commercial understanding and practical skills, as well as personal coaching sessions. Two of the seven people who took part in the pilot cohort (Dec 2021) have gone on to secure a training contract with the firm.
This initiative has been led by Linklaters’ HR department with fantastic support from the Trainee Recruitment partners, Mark Drury and Fionnghuala Griggs who have championed the programme’s success from the start:
“We were delighted to establish the Linklaters Going Forward programme, another first of its kind for the firm. Increasing access to the legal profession is something the firm is passionate about, and it is fantastic that we have been able to specifically support those who have been granted refugee status, are in the process of claiming asylum or are from a recognised conflict zone. We were pleased to see several of the cohort secure vacation scheme and training contract offers. We look forward to welcoming them to the firm as future employees.”
- Responsible Business
Linklaters has also been shortlisted in the ‘Responsible Business’ category for its collaboration with REPRIEVE to support the process of resentencing thousands of eligible death row prisoners in Kenya with the potential to save thousands of lives. REPRIEVE is collecting first-hand data from prisoners, Lineal’s legaltech solution is hosting the data and Linklaters lawyers are reviewing the cases.
Alison Saunders, supervising Dispute Resolution partner, commented:
“We had several different teams dealing with aspects of the project such as collection of death penalty data and identifying cases where the defendants’ human rights may be at risk in the resentencing process. These work streams had to be brought together to assist REPRIEVE and work with them as they were on the ground in Kenya. This required regular team and project meetings as well as effective coordination which I was honoured to oversee. It was a privilege to work with such a committed team of Linklaters lawyers on advising REPRIEVE.”
The full report is available to read on the Financial Times website here.
