The Europe Women in Business Law Awards gives law firms and professional services firms in the region the recognition they deserve for their efforts in helping women advance in the legal profession.

For a full and extended view of the awards methodology, categories, definitions and deadlines, please click here

The event is split into practitioner, law firm, and in-house categories. Law firms are first invited to make submissions detailing their female lawyer numbers in relation to their male counterparts. Submissions will also include details of tangible, women-friendly working practices and policies as well as biographical information about leading female lawyers.

A dedicated research team then conducts a series of peer review interviews – face-to-face and over the phone – with leading female practitioners across multiple areas of law and jurisdictions verifying much of the information provided. The team will also incorporate other research from within Legal Benchmarking Group.

• The winning individuals and firms are decided by an adjudication panel composed of senior editorial staff following an extensive research process.
  
• Individual winners are judged on their professional accomplishments as well as advocacy and influence within their fields between January 1 and December 31 of the preceding year.
  
• Firm and country/regional winners are judged on their ability to support the development of women in the legal profession and provide work/life programmes to enable women to pursue legal careers. Criteria include the ratio of women to men lawyers (at all levels of seniority), the retention of women associates to partner level and any relevant diversity initiatives.