International Women’s Day: Celebrating women shaping business law in the UK and beyond

International Women’s Day on 8th March 2026 is a moment to recognise achievement, reflect on progress, and recommit to building a profession where talent can thrive at every level. In business law, that work shows up in many forms: creating opportunity, protecting brands, steering governance through change, advising through regulatory complexity, and helping companies grow responsibly.

This year, we are spotlighting 7 women whose recent work and recognition capture the breadth of modern business law, from in-house leadership to private practice expertise.

Frances Coats, Group General Counsel, Howden

Frances Coats’ story is a reminder that legal leadership is not only about advising on risk, but also about widening the route into the profession. In 2025 she was recognised as General Counsel of the Year at the Women and Diversity in Law Awards, linked to an internship programme she created to support young people from disadvantaged backgrounds and under-represented communities.

What makes the programme notable is its practical focus on removing barriers that often go unspoken. Reporting around the award highlights comprehensive financial support, including travel and accommodation, and an intention to tackle issues such as regional inequality and accent discrimination, so that opportunity is not limited to those already closest to the City. The programme also partnered with private practice firms so interns can see multiple sides of the profession.

In-house teams shape the culture of business, and initiatives like this show how general counsel can use their influence to build stronger, fairer pipelines into law.

Emma Price, Practice Director and Company Secretary, RLK Solicitors

Emma Price’s story reflects the strength of legal talent developed from within. She joined RLK Solicitors in 2003 as a paralegal in the litigation department, building on her legal degree and developing an early understanding of the practical, commercial and operational demands of legal practice. That foundation has shaped her progression through the firm and continues to inform her leadership today.

Now Practice Director and Company Secretary, Emma plays a central role in overseeing RLK’s operations and strategic development, helping to guide the next phase of the firm’s growth in a way that is considered, sustainable and aligned with a long-term vision.

She has also been instrumental in driving the RLK Academy, reinforcing the commitment to structured development, progression and internal opportunity. With a deep understanding of the legal landscape, alongside a strong focus on governance, compliance and operational excellence, Emma’s leadership shows how legal expertise can be translated into the responsible, innovative and commercially sharp growth of a modern law firm.

Natasza Shilling, Lead Counsel (Brand and IP), Vodafone

Brand and IP lawyers often work behind the scenes, but their impact is visible everywhere: in customer trust, reputation, and the distinctive identity of household-name businesses.

Natasza Shilling was named In-house Counsel of the Year at the Women and Diversity in Law Awards 2025. The award write-up highlights two strands of achievement. The first is her contribution to inclusion, including supporting a colleague through the SQE and building a diverse team.

The second is the technical excellence that sits at the heart of business-facing IP. The awards commentary credits her with helping Vodafone register a sonic trade mark at the EU Intellectual Property Office, and notes how rare sonic marks are among EU trade marks.

It is a powerful combination: developing people while delivering specialist legal work that protects and differentiates a global brand.

Jessica Winter, Chief Legal Officer, Wise

The role of chief legal officer has become one of the most commercially connected positions in a growth business, sitting at the intersection of governance, regulation, strategy and execution.

Jessica Winter, Wise’s Chief Legal Officer, was shortlisted for General Counsel of the Year at The Lawyer Awards 2025, a recognition that reflects the increasing visibility of in-house leadership.

Her work has also been highlighted in the context of capital markets strategy. Legal Business reported in January 2026 that Wise announced plans to switch its primary listing from the UK to the US, and noted Winter’s role overseeing the company’s first listing in the UK back in 2020, including the practical challenge of having to run that process remotely during the pandemic.

Winter is also recognised in Chambers’ Global Market Leaders listings for General Counsel in the UK, underscoring the standing and complexity of the legal function in a regulated, international fintech.

In-house success is often measured in outcomes that never become disputes: robust governance, smooth execution, trusted regulatory relationships, and growth delivered without losing sight of risk.

Sabine Chalmers, General Counsel and Company Secretary, BT Group

Few roles in UK business law sit closer to national infrastructure than the general counsel and company secretary of a major telecoms group. Sabine Chalmers holds that position at BT Group and also serves as Director of Regulatory Affairs, placing her at the centre of governance and regulation in a sector where legal issues are inseparable from commercial strategy.

BT’s board biography notes her appointment as General Counsel in 2018, and her subsequent appointment as Company Secretary and Director of Regulatory Affairs. It also points to the breadth of her prior leadership, including senior legal roles at Anheuser-Busch InBev and Diageo, alongside dual qualification in England and Wales and New York State.

Chalmers also brings a wider public governance perspective as a Non-Executive Director of the Bank of England’s Court of Directors, with a stated term running from January 2023 to December 2026. The Bank of England biography highlights her experience leading large, global legal and corporate affairs teams and working on complex acquisitions and integrations.

Her career illustrates how modern business law spans corporate stewardship, regulatory engagement, board governance, and public trust.

Caroline Meinertz, Partner, Clifford Chance (Financial Regulation)

Business law does not only power transactions. It also helps markets work. In the UK, few practice areas are as central to market stability as financial regulation.

Caroline Meinertz, head of Clifford Chance’s Financial Regulation practice in London, was named Lawyer of the Year for Financial Regulation at the IFLR Women in Business Law Awards 2025.

Her firm profile describes her work advising leading financial institutions on the implications of financial services regulation and law on their businesses, and notes her involvement in industry and policy groups including the International Regulatory Strategy Group, which advises the City of London Corporation and TheCityUK.

Beliz Inan, Solicitor, RLK Solicitors

Beliz Inan’s journey is the kind of story that shines a light on the future of the profession. Joining RLK in 2022 as a paralegal and qualifying as a solicitor in December 2025, her progression reflects focus, determination and the value of investing in emerging talent.

What makes her path especially striking is not only the pace of that development, but the calibre of work she has already been trusted to handle. Alongside her commercial litigation practice, Beliz has worked closely with our insurance litigation team and recently attended a Supreme Court hearing on how business interruption claims should be quantified – a rare and valuable insight into complex, high-value litigation at the highest level.

She has also played a key role in a commercial share purchase dispute involving contractual interpretation and payment issues, supported contractual and defamation matters through detailed evidential analysis, and assisted with complex property litigation by preparing witness evidence and attending trial.

Beliz is a strong example of the next generation of female legal talent: ambitious, capable and already building the kind of experience that marks her out as a rising star in the UK legal profession.

What these stories have in common

These seven careers span different sectors and different styles of practice, but they share a common theme: women thriving in leadership positions in a profession where men still hold the majority of senior roles, accounting for around 70% in 2025 according to the Solicitors Regulation Authority:

• Business impact: Whether it is a listing decision, a trade mark strategy, or regulatory advice, the legal work is tied directly to commercial outcomes.
• Leadership beyond the job title: Several of these examples combine performance with purposeful leadership, including creating opportunities for others and shaping inclusive teams.
• Trust and stewardship: Governance and regulation are ultimately about trust – for customers, investors, regulators and the wider public.

As we mark International Women’s Day, we celebrate these achievements and the many women across the profession whose expertise, judgement and leadership strengthen businesses and institutions every day, while also championing the next generation of women leaders and elevating the voices of those just beginning their careers.