Legally Lesbians: 25 lawyers tells us why lesbian visibility is important this #LVW25

In October 2023, I was appointed as the first ever Lady Chief Justice of England and Wales. Upon appointment I became the President of the Courts of England and Wales and Head of the Judiciary and the 98^th person to hold this historic office. 

When I was called to the Bar in 1987, only 20% of practising barristers were women. By the time I took silk in 2003, that figure had risen to 32%, and today it stands at 40%. This is evidence of what women can achieve when they are given the opportunities they deserve and space to thrive in the workplace.

I am committed to ensuring that this figure continues to increase; but it is important that we also consider how to encourage, welcome, and support those with intersectional identities in the legal professions.

I had a hard time accepting my sexuality and hid my identity for many years. It took a long time to get here, but today I am an out and proud gay woman. Being visible at work is essential to my happiness at both work and home. 

I am extremely passionate about supporting young people to forge a career in commercial law and I feel very proud to have played a small part in someone’s journey to becoming a solicitor. Being my authentic self allows me to really connect with young people from underrepresented backgrounds. I hope it gives them the courage to bring every part of themselves to work as well.

Throughout my career, I have always been open about my identity. Being honest about who I am and what matters to me has strengthened my relationships with both colleagues and clients.

I am a dual-qualified regulatory and criminal litigator in the UK and New Zealand. I lead the Regulatory team at Kingsley Napley, specialising in Professional Discipline, Private Prosecutions, Public Inquiries, and Health and Safety. I have chosen to work at a firm that prioritises EDI and has an active LGBTQ+ network, led by talented and proudly visible lawyers.

While I understand that being open at work isn’t possible for everyone, in my case it has allowed me to set a positive tone in my work environment, fostering loyalty and connection in my professional relationships.  

When I came to the Bar, after first having a career as a concert violinist, I felt that it was important to be out. I believe that, just as our foremothers fought for the right to live as lesbians, it is our duty to normalise being open about it.

I have worked as a criminal barrister for over five years. I am glad to say that I have not experienced any discrimination within Chambers or from solicitors, who have been instructing me on cases of serious violence, sexual offences, and large-value fraud. In Chambers, I am on the diversity committee and I am proud to promote equality.

After spending most of my working life in private practice, I moved in-house in 2022. For years, I felt that being my authentic self would prejudice my career progression. There was a huge pressure to present as heterosexual and ultra feminine in order to ‘fit in’.

However in recent years, there has been more LGBTQ+ representation in the legal sector. I now feel completely free to be myself, without fear of judgement or the need to come out in the traditional sense. We all have a responsibility to be visible. By sharing our stories, we can help future generations of aspiring LGBTQ+ lawyers feel safe to be seen, exactly as they are.

It took almost 20 years for me to come out at work. No other lesbians appeared to be visible in the trade marks field and I got impatient waiting for others to appear. Joining Pinsent Masons as a visible lesbian mum changed my work life and brought me the opportunity to help others. 

I lead CITMA’s Diversity & Inclusion Working Group, co-chair my firm’s LGBTQ+ network and I am on the IP OUT committee. I hope that the work that we do in these groups encourages people from all backgrounds to be comfortably themselves professionally. I also hope it helps broaden understanding in the sector.

As a CEO, solicitor and mediator, I have dedicated much of my career to advocating for lesbian visibility, LGBTQ+ equality, human rights, the rule of law and access to justice.

I began my career as a commercial litigator at Eversheds and I have been a trustee on various boards, including LawWorks and Judicial Appointments. I was also the deputy chair of the IBA LGBTQ+ committee and the CEO of The Law Society of England and Wales.

In all the work I do, I believe in being a visible lesbian role model for aspiring leaders. Lesbian visibility contributes to a more inclusive society where all identities are recognised, respected and celebrated.

When I started in the profession in the early 2000s, there were very few lawyers who were openly out and LGBTQ+ networks were in their infancy. As a junior lawyer I was cautious about coming out. I worried that I might be labelled as ‘the lesbian trainee’, when I wanted to be judged on my merits.

Thankfully, I’ve found that the opportunities from being out have greatly outweighed any negatives. I am hopeful that the profession has also changed for the better, although we can never be complacent. I’m Co-Chair of our London Pride network and serve on the Global Diversity Committee. I am particularly passionate about supporting lesbian, non-binary and trans lawyers.  

Having been in practice since 2020, my experience spans prosecution and defence of general crime and corporate crime, with a year spent in private practice at Addleshaw Goddard in 2024.

LGBTQ+ representation in the legal system was crucial for me when it came to feeling comfortable enough to bring my authentic self to work. Visibility is key. It allows individuals from diverse backgrounds to bring unique perspectives and contribute to a fairer, more inclusive legal system.

After beginning my career in tech, I moved into law. Throughout my journey, I have been fortunate to work with mentors and colleagues who value diversity and inclusion. I believe that being open about who I am helps create a more inclusive environment.

Lesbian visibility is important because it challenges stereotypes and inspires future generations to pursue their goals with confidence. Representation shapes perceptions, opportunities and social progress, creating a world where talent is not constrained by prejudice or fear of discrimination. By being visible, we help build workplaces where everyone feels valued, respected and able to thrive as their authentic selves.

As a trainee solicitor at Hogan Lovells, I am currently in my first seat within the Financial Services sub team of the Global Regulatory team. I have been really enjoying getting to grips with a complex regulatory landscape. Starting my career, I recognise the importance of a visible and supportive queer network for my professional growth.

Visibility was crucial for me when choosing firms, and I focused on those highlighted in the previous Legally Lesbians articles. For me, visibility means feeling empowered to bring my whole self to work and knowing there’s a supportive network as I progress in my career.

Growing up, I hardly knew anyone who was queer – let alone anyone who identified as a lesbian. When I was coming into my own queerness, I was lucky enough to find my own community of people modelling how to live joyful queer lives. From my community, I’ve learnt so much about the power of visibility to unlock people’s imaginations and the sense of possibility in their own lives, both personally and professionally.

These days, I’m an associate in the Competition & Regulatory team at Slaughter and May, where I also co-chair our PRISM network for LGBTQ+ employees (and try my best to be visible!).

I grew up near Memphis, Tennessee, USA, where I completed a B.A. in History, and later a law degree from University of Texas School of Law. Out since high school, LGBTQ+ equality has always been close to my heart. I attended a 1993 march on Washington, D.C. campaigning for gay rights, and co-founded my undergraduate university’s LGBTQ+ network. 

These days I live in Kent with my wife of 15 years and our two cats. I have been with Bloomberg for six years. Before joining Bloomberg, I spent 15+ years with UK regulators investigating financial wrongdoing, including nine+ years at the FCA where I again co-founded the LGBTQ+ staff network.

I have always been out and proud at work. I am well aware that being out at work remains a privilege that was hard-fought for, but that many do not benefit from. At a time when LGBTQ+ and other minority rights are being rolled back in some parts of the world and remain at risk in the rest, visibility is more important than ever. It is vital to foster diverse and inclusive workplaces.

I am proud to be part of a great team that adds value to clients in resolving a wide variety of disputes, and I am proud of being able to say that I have a wonderful wife.

Being part of the LGBTQ+ community has been an important element of my identity and a driving force in how I have shaped my career. As a family lawyer, I believe I have a role to play in ensuring every individual and family is recognised and respected. There should be no place for prejudice or discrimination in our profession.

As well as being a dual-qualified lawyer in Brazil and England & Wales, I am also an author. I have written several articles on legal matters affecting the LGBTQ+ community and a book about same-sex marriage in Brazil.

I have spent over 25 years in the legal profession, as a corporate securities lawyer in Canada and the UK. As a partner in a global law firm, I established a successful cross border capital markets practice before transitioning to an in-house role in financial services. For most of my career, there has been little to no lesbian, trans/non-binary or queer representation.

I am proud to be part of a growing group of visible LGBTQ+ lawyers who provide support, mentorship and friendship to up and coming LGBTQ+ legal professionals. It is powerful and important to disrupt the status quo and affect positive change for our community and profession.

As a proud queer Indian person that participates on the A&O Shearman LGBTQ+ network’s committee, I believe visibility and representation are vital for creating a sense of true belonging and community.

Having transitioned from being a pharmacist to a trainee solicitor in intellectual property litigation, focusing on patents in the life sciences industry, I hope to show others that you can thrive authentically in diverse professional fields. The more visibility we have, the more we can encourage others to feel safe and empowered to be out at work and push for equal opportunities.

I was at school in the 1980s when Section 28 was introduced. The UK law banned the ‘promotion of homosexuality’ by local authorities and schools. This created a difficult, homophobic environment and meant that I grew up with few visible lesbian role models.

I took a long path to becoming a lawyer, but when I got there, I was determined to be out from the start. I wanted to be my authentic self at work, having spent years in the professional closet. With deep breaths, I came out to colleagues and contacts – a process which never stops.

As a member of the Irwin Mitchell LGBTQ+ Network Steering Group, I champion lesbian visibility wherever possible. Given my experience, I strongly believe in the importance of role modelling.

I head up She’s A Baller, a women’s football social media platform and creative agency. Prior to this, I was Women’s Football Editor at The Athletic and preceding this, I was a litigation lawyer at Irwin Mitchell for eight years. I was also a professional footballer in the WSL and Women’s Championship.

Throughout all of my roles, lesbian visibility has been key in making me feel that I am part of a valued and incredibly talented community. Growing up, I sometimes felt that I should keep being a part of the LGBTQ+ community to myself, but now, I couldn’t be prouder!

Browne Jacobson has been an incredibly welcoming and supportive environment for me, as both a lesbian and a young professional. However, the legal industry, like the wider world, still has a long way to go in embracing and promoting diversity. 

Even early on in my career, I recognise the power of representation – showing that we belong in professional spaces and that we can, and should, bring our true selves to work. Visibility not only shows we’re here (and we’re queer!). It also paves a way for others to follow.

Being open about who I am has allowed me to build meaningful working relationships, genuine connections, and to thrive professionally. I’m proud of my identity as a lesbian and believe that visibility and representation is essential in breaking down barriers and challenging stereotypes within the legal industry.

I’m passionate about fostering a diverse and inclusive environment where the voices of LGBTQ+ professionals within the legal sector can be amplified and we can all bring our whole selves to our careers!

As a lesbian and a family solicitor, I know firsthand the importance of visibility in fostering understanding, breaking down stereotypes, and empowering others. Visibility matters because it helps create a world where LGBTQ+ individuals feel seen, valued, and represented – both in life and in the legal profession. 

Many of my clients are same-sex couples, and I understand the unique challenges they face. By being open about who I am, I aim to provide reassurance, build trust, and show that their experiences are valid and understood. Visibility isn’t just about representation; it’s about creating change, inspiring confidence and championing equality.

I’m a recovering debt capital markets lawyer. In 2022, I moved from private practice and now lead the Knowledge Management team at 3Kites Consulting. I advise law firms on their KM strategy and how AI-assisted tools might be deployed in their business. I’m passionate about how KM techniques can help create equitable access to organisations’ knowledge.

I only came out at 37 and feel lucky to have encountered nothing but support from the firms I’ve worked at and advised since then. But as my two daughters remind me, ‘you can’t be what you can’t see’. So LGBTQ+ visibility feels vital in any workplace.

When I first started my training contract, I was unsure about being out at work, thinking it wasn’t relevant to my job. Internalised societal expectations and the lack of representation of gay women (in contrast to cis gay men) did not help. Joining the LGBTQ+ committee at A&O Shearman allowed me to find a community and gain the confidence to bring my true authentic self at work.

Embracing my identity has been crucial, not just for my wellbeing and related performance at work, but also to promote lesbian visibility with the help of other queer women and actively supportive allies.

No one should feel that they cannot be their authentic self throughout their life. I am someone who wasn’t safe, as a young teenager, with my sexuality. So it’s absolutely vital that I show, regardless of history, that feeling safe and being authentically you is being part of the change that is so necessary. 

Joining Browne Jacobson in 2014 as a temporary Administration Assistant, I secured a permanent position the same year. By 2020, I advanced to Practice Assistant within the Insurance and Public Risk Tech Claims and Social Care teams, during the firm’s support project.

I came out at university, but was encouraged to squeeze back into the closet when I started my training contract at a Magic Circle firm 20+ years ago. ‘You don’t want to be The Lesbian Trainee,’ I was warned. As a socially mobile person, I was used to flexing and dealing with people’s assumptions, but it was an awkward, exhausting and alienating time. I had no role models; no one I could see with a life I wanted – as a queer woman, with a challenging and rewarding legal career, and … children!

I drew inspiration from diverse colleagues and professional contacts, but I knew very few LGBTQ+ people, and even fewer lesbians. It was such a relief when I found a firm who saw my difference as an asset, and my network and investment in my community as something to be celebrated and encouraged.