Ethnic Solicitors South West Network- What and who? banner

Ethnic Solicitors South West Network- What and who?

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This group was a recreation of the former BAME Legal Network. It was launched in January 2024. The current board members include:

Nicholas Lee (Chair), Paragon Costs Solutions

Salma Maqsood, Thrings LLP

Imam Qazi, Foot Anstey

Marcus Walters, Burges Salmon

Coralie McKeivor, Freeths

Sabeena Pirooz, Thompsons

Their mission statement is simple:

“Bringing together lawyers in the South West from diverse racial backgrounds to promote equality and equity in entry to the profession and in career progression.”

ESSWN (as it is commonly known) is an inclusive network which welcomes people from all backgrounds and those who share its aspirations.

They work collaboratively with Bristol Law Society who have supported them in promoting their events.

Since its creation in January 2024, ESSWN has reformed, rebranded and welcomed more than 250 delegates to its events from over 25 law firms, 3 sets of chambers, 3 universities and the judiciary.

ESSWN has created a LinkedIn page and a group which has over 100 members.

Their events to date have been as follows:

  • January 2024- Foot Anstey hosted their launch event. They had guest speakers from WECA and Babbasa. The focus of this event was to set out their plans and visions for this network. One delegate said that he had relocated from Liverpool and that he had never been to an event like this and that it was empowering to be in a room with a diverse range of legal professionals
  • March 2024- Simmons & Simmons hosted what we believe to be the City’s first Iftar event for the legal community. This event had 50 delegates and notably included a number of law students from the local universities. This powerful event was not just for the Muslim community but welcomed people from all faiths and those with none. Delegates were encouraged to fast for the day to show allyship. Prayers Rooms were available for those breaking fast with dates, drinks and halal food being provided
  • May 2024- Burges Salmon hosted “Question Time” with panelists from Burges Salmon, TLT, Foot Anstey, Simmons & Simmons, Freeths, Thompsons, UWE and the University of Bristol. The focus of this event was to explore what firms were doing to promote inclusivity and diversity, to discuss how firms can better collaborate and to explore the challenges
  • July 2024- TLT hosted their Summer Party. The purpose of this event was to allow people to network in a relaxed environment. TLT introduced the event and shared their journey of inclusion
  • August 2024- ESSWN hosted an emergency video meeting to enable a safe space for lawyers to share their thoughts and concerns following the Far-Right riots in Bristol
  • October 2024- ESSWN hosted a cross-professional networking event in collaboration with the Black Professional Network and Black South West Network. This event was kindly hosted by Clarke Willmott and reflected on Black History Month

The impact on our legal community is difficult to measure. But there are some measurables:

  1. The number of delegates.
  2. The volume of law firms engaging with this network.
  3. The interest from students and the universities.
  4. The approaches from firms wanting to host.

What is difficult to measure is the sense of community, inclusion and pride. When you hear statements like “I have never been in a room before with people that look like me”, it really demonstrates the value of this network. Bristol is a thriving legal centre where everyone should feel welcome, included, and empowered.

Caroline Turner-Inskip, Partner and Global Head of Wellbeing at Simmons & Simmons, said:

“ESSW are so critical.  It is so easy to underestimate what a network like ESSW can bring to our legal community, helping to deliver access to opportunities, role modelling and helping to overcome systematic barriers in the legal sector.  The core team are an inspirational group, dedicating their time to encourage and mentor upcoming a, challenging bias in a highly collaborative and engaging way.  The events they deliver are of exceptional quality bringing law firms, educational institutions, not for profits and the legal sector together.  My favourite take away from their recent panel debate was a reflection from one attendee who commented that being in a room with such energised role models and allies, made them know the Bristol legal sector was a place they felt they could thrive.”

Sasha Butterworth, Senior Partner at TLT, said:

“The Ethnic Solicitors Southwest Network (ESSW) has worked tirelessly to raise the profile of our legal colleagues working in the south-west who come from different heritages. As the leader of TLT’s Impact committee, I have valued the input from the ESSW committee on how we could build on our stated objective of 35% ethnically diverse colleagues in early careers by 2030, to ensure that we also recruit and promote senior leaders from different heritages, reflecting our city and the clients with whom we work.

It was an honour to be asked to speak at one of the ESSW’s panel event in the Spring, discussing what more law firms are and should be doing to increase the number of ethnic solicitors in the southwest. Following this, TLT were delighted to be asked by the ESSW to host their summer party, providing an opportunity for discussion and exchange of views. The ESSW is an asset to the south-west and deserves recognition for its efforts in encouraging diversity of thought and for the benefit it brings to the legal community”.

To find out more about ESSWN feel free to reach out on LinkedIn, through one of the board members or through BLS.