Legal Benchmarking Group Unveils 2025 Women in Business Law Americas Awards Shortlist

The Legal Benchmarking Group has revealed the shortlist for the 2025 Women in Business Law Americas Awards, now in its 15th year. These awards highlight exceptional women legal practitioners across a broad spectrum of practice areas and celebrate those who are breaking new ground in their expertise while promoting gender diversity within the legal profession.

After months of comprehensive research and careful review of submissions, the 2025 shortlist honors the remarkable accomplishments of women lawyers and the firms that support them throughout the Americas. The selection process involved rigorous analysis of direct submissions and firm data.

The judging panel evaluated nominees based on leadership, client impact, thought leadership, and commitment to advancing gender balance in the legal sector. The shortlist features trailblazing individuals and pioneering firms recognized for their contributions to a more inclusive legal industry.

Additional category winners will be announced during the awards ceremony, including Emerging Leader, Pro Bono Leader, US Regional Firm awards, and In-House awards.

The Women in Business Law Americas Awards Ceremony is scheduled for Tuesday, June 17, 2025, at 583 Park Avenue in New York City. The event will spotlight law firms and practitioners who are leading efforts toward greater inclusivity in the legal field.

The shortlisted firms for Career Development International Firm of the Year include Allen & Overy, Shearman & Sterling, Dentons, Milbank, and Morrison & Foerster.

In the Career Development Latin America Firm of the Year category, nominees are BLP, BMA Advogados, Bustamante Fabara, Chevez Ruiz Zamarripa, Estudio Echecopar/Baker McKenzie, Galicia Abogados, Lara Martins Advogados, Marval, O’Farrell & Mairal, and Mitrani Caballero.

For Career Development North America Firm of the Year, the shortlist features Akerman, Bracewell, Cadwalader Wickersham & Taft, Labaton Sucharow, Nixon Peabody, and Smart & Biggar.

The Diverse Women Advocacy Firm of the Year (International) nominees are Baker McKenzie, Morrison & Foerster, and Willkie Farr & Gallagher.

In Latin America, the Diverse Women Advocacy Firm of the Year shortlist includes BARLAW – Barrera & Asociados, BLP, Bustamante Fabara, Creel, García-Cuéllar, Aiza y Enríquez, Demarest, Estudio Echecopar/Baker McKenzie, Machado Meyer, Marval, O’Farrell & Mairal, Pinheiro Neto Advogados, and PricewaterhouseCoopers.

The North America Diverse Women Advocacy Firm of the Year nominees are Akerman, Cadwalader Wickersham & Taft, Hecker Fink, Labaton Sucharow, and Smart & Biggar.

For Gender Diversity Advocacy International Firm of the Year, the shortlisted firms are Milbank, Morrison & Foerster, and Ropes & Gray.

In Latin America, the Gender Diversity Advocacy Firm of the Year nominees include Bhering Cabral Advogados, BLP, BMA Advogados, Chevez Ruiz Zamarripa, Estudio Echecopar/Baker McKenzie, Gómez Pinzón Abogados, Machado Meyer, Miranda & Amado, TozziniFreire, and Trench Rossi Watanabe.

The North America Gender Diversity Advocacy Firm of the Year shortlist features Akerman, Bracewell, Hecker Fink, Labaton Sucharow, Moore & Van Allen, and Smart & Biggar.

For Pro Bono Firm of the Year (International), nominees are Allen & Overy, Shearman & Sterling, Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton, Dentons, Milbank, Morrison & Foerster, and Skadden Arps Slate Meagher & Flom.

The Latin America Pro Bono Firm of the Year shortlist includes Bustamante Fabara, Chevez Ruiz Zamarripa, Creel, García-Cuéllar, Aiza y Enríquez, Estudio Echecopar/Baker McKenzie, Gómez Pinzón Abogados, Guyer & Regules, Machado Meyer, Mattos Filho Advogados, Mijares, Angoitia Cortés y Fuentes, Tauil & Chequer/Mayer Brown, and TozziniFreire.