It is that time again! Corporate Counsel is seeking nominations for its Women, Influence & Power in Law Awards, which honors North American general counsel and law firm partners who have demonstrated a commitment to advancing the empowerment of women in law and have shown extraordinary leadership in their careers.

The honorees for these awards stand out because they are business strategists, complex problem-solvers, and of course, great lawyers. And as important (especially to them) is that they are also great people-leaders—they care more about the success of the team than their individual success.

Nominations are due June 27. Click here to submit a nomination.

Please note: Each firm/company may submit multiple candidates. You may also submit a candidate for multiple categories, but a candidate can only win in one category. If you are submitting a candidate for multiple categories, please submit a separate submission for each category.

We are looking for nominations in the following categories:

Law Firm Awards

Ally of the Year

Allyship in the workplace is crucial for inclusion and equality. We want to recognize those who listen with empathy and seek to understand different perspectives, show up by being present, engaged, and committed to diversity efforts in the firm, and speak up as an advocate to others.

Anyone in your organization can be nominated for this category.

  • Please provide name, title, organization and contact details of nominee
  • Short essay (600 words or less) about why this nominee deserves recognition in this particular category
  • Short answer Q&A responses from the nominee about their legal career that will be published if nominee is selected. 

Collaborative Leadership

Women who stand out as working well with others with external and internal stakeholders – the "team players."

  • Please provide name, title, organization and contact details of nominee
  • Short essay (600 words or less) about why this nominee deserves recognition in this particular category
  • Short answer Q&A responses from the nominee about their legal career that will be published if nominee is selected. 

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Champion

A firm or in-house leader that has taken an active role in fostering diversity, equity and inclusion in the industry at large. This individual, through their efforts, has made a significant, measurable impact in their department, firm or organization in driving real, lasting change. Anyone in your organization can be nominated for this category.

  • Please provide name, title, organization and contact details of nominee
  • Short essay (600 words or less) about why this nominee deserves recognition in this particular category
  • Short answer Q&A responses from the nominee about their legal career  that will be published if nominee is selected. 

Innovative Leaders

Women who are the thinkers, the idea women. Women who are looked at as the ones impacting change and developing new strategies for better solutions.

  • Please provide name, title, organization and contact details of nominee
  • Short essay (600 words or less) about why this nominee deserves recognition in this particular category
  • Short answer Q&A responses from the nominee about their legal career that will be published if nominee is selected. 

Lifetime Achievement

Women who had made their lasting mark on the legal profession over their years of dedication, innovation and hard work. 

  • Please provide name, title, organization and contact details of nominee
  • Short essay (600 words or less) about why this nominee deserves recognition in this particular category
  • Short answer Q&A responses from the nominee about their legal career that will be published if nominee is selected. 

Managing Partner of the Year

Women who have had a huge, impactful year. A year that stands out among their peers.

  • Please provide name, title, organization and contact details of nominee
  • Short essay (600 words or less) about why this nominee deserves recognition in this particular category
  • Short answer Q&A responses from the nominee about their legal career that will be published if nominee is selected. 

Mentor & Mentee Collaboration

Mentees – nominate your mentor! This award recognizes a woman lawyer who has excelled at mentoring others in achieving their career objectives through moral, social, and intellectual support. Anyone in your organization can be nominated for this category.

  • Please provide name, title, organization and contact details of nominee (mentor) and nominator (mentee)
  • Short essay (600 words or less) about why the mentor deserves recognition in this particular category. This essay can be from the mentee.
  • Short answer Q&A responses from the mentor about their legal career that will be published if nominee is selected. 

Thought Leadership

Women who focus on how true leadership can change the world. It is their passion and drive to have a successful department/team through their outstanding leadership skills.

  • Please provide name, title, organization and contact details of nominee
  • Short essay (600 words or less) about why this nominee deserves recognition in this particular category
  • Short answer Q&A responses from the nominee about their legal career that will be published if nominee is selected. 

In-House Awards

Ally of the Year

Allyship in the workplace is crucial for inclusion and equality. We want to recognize those who listen with empathy and seek to understand different perspectives, show up by being present, engaged, and committed to diversity efforts in the organization, and speak up as an advocate to others.

Anyone in your organization can be nominated for this category.

  • Please provide name, title, organization and contact details of nominee
  • Short essay (600 words or less) about why this nominee deserves recognition in this particular category
  • Short answer Q&A responses from the nominee about their legal career that will be published if nominee is selected. 

Collaborative Leadership

Women who stand out as working well with others with external and internal stakeholders – the "team players."

  • Please provide name, title, organization and contact details of nominee
  • Short essay (600 words or less) about why this nominee deserves recognition in this particular category
  • Short answer Q&A responses from the nominee about their legal career that will be published if nominee is selected. 

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Champion

A firm or in-house leader that has taken an active role in fostering diversity, equity and inclusion in the industry at large. This individual, through their efforts, has made a significant, measurable impact in their department, firm or organization in driving real, lasting change. Anyone in your organization can be nominated for this category.

  • Please provide name, title, organization and contact details of nominee
  • Short essay (600 words or less) about why this nominee deserves recognition in this particular category
  • Short answer Q&A responses from the nominee about their legal career  that will be published if nominee is selected. 

Innovative Leaders

Women who are the thinkers, the idea women. Women who are looked at as the ones impacting change and developing new strategies for better solutions.

  • Please provide name, title, organization and contact details of nominee
  • Short essay (600 words or less) about why this nominee deserves recognition in this particular category
  • Short answer Q&A responses from the nominee about their legal career that will be published if nominee is selected. 

Lifetime Achievement

Women who had made their lasting mark on the legal profession over their years of dedication, innovation and hard work. 

  • Please provide name, title, organization and contact details of nominee
  • Short essay (600 words or less) about why this nominee deserves recognition in this particular category
  • Short answer Q&A responses from the nominee about their legal career that will be published if nominee is selected. 

General Counsel of the Year

Women who have had a huge, impactful year. A year that stands out among their peers.

  • Please provide name, title, organization and contact details of nominee
  • Short essay (600 words or less) about why this nominee deserves recognition in this particular category
  • Short answer Q&A responses from the nominee about their legal career that will be published if nominee is selected. 

Mentor & Mentee Collaboration

Mentees – nominate your mentor! This award recognizes a woman lawyer who has excelled at mentoring others in achieving their career objectives through moral, social, and intellectual support. Anyone in your organization can be nominated for this category.

  • Please provide name, title, organization and contact details of nominee (mentor) and nominator (mentee)
  • Short essay (600 words or less) about why the mentor deserves recognition in this particular category. This essay can be from the mentee.
  • Short answer Q&A responses from the mentor about their legal career that will be published if nominee is selected. 

Thought Leadership

Women who focus on how true leadership can change the world. It is their passion and drive to have a successful department/team through their outstanding leadership skills.

  • Please provide name, title, organization and contact details of nominee
  • Short essay (600 words or less) about why this nominee deserves recognition in this particular category
  • Short answer Q&A responses from the nominee about their legal career that will be published if nominee is selected. 

Team Awards (Law Firm or In-House)

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion 

A team that has taken an active role in fostering diversity, equity and inclusion in the industry at large. This individual, through their efforts, has made a significant, measurable impact in their department, firm or organization in driving real, lasting change. Anyone in your organization can be nominated for this category.

  • Please provide name, title, organization and contact details of nominees
  • Short essay (600 words or less) about why the team deserves recognition in this particular category
  • Short answer Q&A responses will be published if the team is selected. 

Collaboration During a Crisis

This award is to recognize a team's impactful and innovative efforts in managing and mitigating crises. Describe how the team came together to overcome challenges in a time of disruption.

  • Please provide name, title, organization and contact details of nominees
  • Short essay (600 words or less) about why the team deserves recognition in this particular category
  • Short answer Q&A responses from the team that will be published if the team is selected. 

Q&A questions: 

Please note: If selected as an honoree, this answer may be published as part of the honoree's profile (with editing for grammar, spelling, clarity purposes only).

  • What was your route to the top? 125 words
  • Looking back, what do you wish you had known when you started out in the legal profession?  125 words
  • What is the best leadership advice you've given or received, and why do you think it was effective?

Q&A for team awards (filled out by a leader of the team):

  • Who are the players on your team and their roles in the organization?
  • What was the driving force or key to the team's success?
  • If you could give any advice on building a team, what advice would you give?

Nominations are due June 27. For more details about each award click on the "submit a nomination link" and click on "categories."

About the Awards:

In October, we will recognize the honorees at an event in New Orleans, presented by ALM, WIPL, and Corporate Counsel, a news and information service exclusively serving general counsel and other top in-house legal professionals.

If you have any questions about these awards, please contact Pearl Wu at [email protected].