As a Black woman growing up in the UK, I have always been aware of the racial disparities in this country; however, as I embarked on my legal career, I was appalled by the issues I encountered as a visible minority. I have had to overcome a number of obstacles in becoming a lawyer, requiring […]
My name is Rodwell and the story of my life is one about the power of sponsorship, mentorship and people who are willing to go the extra mile to propel a young black person forward. I was born in Zimbabwe. My parents were doing well for themselves, as they had worked to build themselves comfortable middle-class […]
October is Black History Month in the United Kingdom. Many employers are celebrating this by championing new and innovative diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) initiatives alongside praising the accomplishments of people of Black heritage in their workforce, as well as Black leaders in society more broadly. Beneath all of this fanfare, there seem to be […]
There are just 90 Black partners at the top of the profession in England and Wales
Imposter syndrome is an all too familiar feeling for many, but imagine the added layer of self-doubt when you rarely see yourself represented in the room. This is not an uncommon occurrence for Black colleagues in the legal industry. I myself have experienced these feelings on numerous occasions throughout my career journey. The SRA (Solicitors […]
WorldRemit’s general counsel Lara Oyesanya talks about her role, being on the executive board, and her top tips for other aspiring black female lawyers.
My Crown. The last thing I prepare for before I go to bed and the first thing I look forward to (sometimes) when I wake. The joy I feel when it comes out as I envisioned and the annoyance I feel when it goes horribly wrong. The excitement of trying something new and the anxiety […]
Leah Brown talks about her journey from private practice to in-house, how she overcame adversity and started her own consulting business as a ‘fixer’ and general counsel.
I am a senior associate in the M&A and capital markets group at Vinson & Elkins. I am highly regarded and valued as a key contributor to the team. I enjoy the full support of my firm (inclusive of the partners, associates, administrative staff and others). I am afforded every opportunity to develop direct […]
I am head of legal and chief of staff at Anergi Group, one of the largest power developers and operators in sub-Saharan Africa. Prior to joining Anergi Group, I was an international transactional lawyer at Slaughter and May (London), Aluko & Oyebode (Lagos), Linklaters (London) and Dentons (London) respectively. I grew up in Nigeria and […]
Monica Gogna still remembers when, as a young associate, she would find herself changing clothes in her car. It was Navaratri, a period of Hindu celebrations that spans nine days in October. Every evening, she would go to the temple to pray in the traditional outfit. But she was nervous about what her colleagues would […]
My career in financial services began at Lex, an asset-based finance firm and a joint venture between Lex Service and Lombard that later became a joint venture with Halifax. Lex Service changed its name when it bought RAC plc. Halifax and Bank of Scotland merged and became HBOS plc. The joint venture continued between RAC […]