A lawyer and a HR business partner from law firm Browne Jacobson have been announced as winners of the WeAreTheCity’s Rising Stars Awards 2022.

The awards, which are sponsored by the Royal Bank of Canada (RBC), celebrate and showcase the UK pipeline of female talent, below senior management and director level and forms a list of 100 leading female role models across various industries and professions.

Lynette Wieland, who is a neurodivergent social care advisory and inquest lawyer at Browne Jacobson’s Nottingham office was named as one of the top 5 winners of the ‘Law (The Lynne Freeman Award)’ category, whilst HR Business Partner, Laura Mahoney, who is also based in the firm’s Nottingham office was named as one of the top 5 winners in the ‘All Other Industries’ category.

Lynette is a social mobility ambassador for The Law Society and also a champion for Neurodiversity In Law, an organisational network that promotes and supports neurodiversity within the legal profession. She regularly gives aspiring students advice on disability disclosure and how to access a career in law. Lynette is an active member of Browne Jacobson’s Diversity & Inclusion (D&I) Group and co-leads the firm’s Disability and Long Term Conditions community. Lynette previously won the Community Choice Award at the 2022 Genius Within – Celebrating Neurodiversity Awards and was also named ‘Champion of the Year’ at the 2021 Next 100 Years Inspirational Women in Law Awards.

Laura, who has been at the firm for seven years was recently promoted to HR Business Partner. During her time at the firm, Laura has helped re-shape many of the firm’s internal HR policies around maternity and sick pay. In October, she heavily championed World Menopause Day and has been integral in helping to raise awareness within the firm and provide support through the formation of an internal menopause community, the appointment of a menopause sponsor contributing to “Courageous Conversations” on the menopause as well as supporting the launch of the firm’s menopause policy.

Caroline Green, Senior Partner at Browne Jacobson said:

“We are incredibly proud that the fantastic work of both Lynette and Laura has been recognised outside the business.

“Both are inspirational role models who have played an important part in supporting the firm’s D&I and social mobility agenda, helping enhance colleagues’ awareness across the firm on this important agenda and creating the real sense of community we are building within the business. We are grateful to have them on board our D&I journey.”

The WeAreTheCity Rising Stars are judged by a panel of over 40 independent judges which includes: Andrea Thompson, Editor-in-Chief at Marie Claire; Julie Baker, Head of Enterprise and Climate Engagement and Partnerships at NatWest; Dr Funke Abimbola MBE, Chief Executive Officer at The Austen Bronte Consultancy; Sally Pennie MBE, award-winning Barrister and Lin Yue, Executive Director at Goldman Sachs amongst others.