Contributors
Two Womble Bond Dickinson (WBD) lawyers have been recognised for their leadership on the ESG agenda after winning awards at The Legal 500 ESG Awards.
The awards celebrate outstanding Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) initiatives across the UK legal market, spanning private practice, in-house teams and the Bar. The ceremony took place in London on April 30, recognising organisations and individuals driving progress across ESG priorities, including diversity, equity and inclusion and environmental and sustainability.
WBD's winners were Partner Lead for Responsible Business, Sally Dallow, who was named ESG Private Practice Champion, and Managing Associate, Nazmin Akthar, who was awarded DE&I Rising Star of the year in recognition of her contribution to advancing diversity, equity and inclusion.
As Partner Lead for Responsible Business and Chair of the Responsible Business Steering Group, Sally leads Womble Bond Dickinson’s responsible business agenda. She has set a clear, impact-led direction for ESG, strengthening alignment, governance and accountability across the firm.
Over the past year, Sally has further embedded ESG into the firm's culture and decision-making by refreshing WBD's Values and Ethical Framework, introducing an aspirational target of 25 Responsible Business Hours for all colleagues, and launching regular firmwide updates. She also created the “Courageous Conversations” series to support inclusion and allyship, attracting strong engagement across the business.
Sally has also helped deliver a new DEI strategy across the employee lifecycle, progressed changes to partner remuneration to help reduce structural barriers, and launched a gender pay gaps project informed by colleague listening sessions. Her leadership has contributed to continued external recognition, including EcoVadis Gold (top 3%), Stonewall Leading Employer and Top 100 status, Mansfield UK certification and Disability Confident Leader status.
Nazmin's award recognises her leadership in advancing racial equity and inclusion across the legal profession. As Co-Chair of Womble Bond Dickinson’s Reach Network, she has created platforms that amplify the experiences of ethnic minority lawyers and strengthen a culture of belonging.
A key highlight of her work includes supporting the launch of Muslim Heritage Month at the UK Parliament in the House of Lords, celebrating Muslim identity and contribution in Britain and challenging stereotypes through storytelling and cultural exchange. Under her leadership, Reach doubled its membership between September 2024 and September 2025 and delivered impactful programmes including cultural celebrations and the Courageous Conversations series, alongside wider advocacy through government consultations and evidence to the UN Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination.
Alongside her policy work, Nazmin supports charitable initiatives providing safeguarding, advocacy and emergency relief for vulnerable women. Her bold, compassionate approach continues to drive practical, lasting progress towards a more inclusive and representative profession.
Paul Stewart, Managing Partner at Womble Bond Dickinson, said: "We are immensely proud of Sally and Nazmin for their outstanding achievements at The Legal 500 ESG Awards. Their commitment to driving positive change and fostering an inclusive, responsible culture at Womble Bond Dickinson is inspiring. These awards recognise their individual leadership and reflect the impact our colleagues are making across the legal sector and beyond."
