Hogan Lovells once again named one of the most innovative law firms in Europe by the Financial Times

Hogan Lovells was shortlisted across seven categories including “Most Innovative Law firm”, and commended for:

• Moving the Market Forward: Natalia Gulyaeva, Moscow Office Managing Partner; Commended for guiding Netflix to complete its first-ever Russian localisation. Lawyers in the firm’s Moscow office assisted Netflix in launching a Russian version of its streaming service, setting up a joint venture with Russian media company National Media Group to comply with laws preventing majority foreign shareholders of media companies, and negotiating regulations. This creates opportunities for Russian filmmakers and gives local audiences access to Netflix’s foreign content with Russian subtitles. 

In addition to ranking in the top ten, Hogan Lovells was profiled for: 

• Trailblazing Sustainability Leader: Adrian Walker, Head of ESG. Adrian is cited for having anticipated the trend for law firms to have purpose statements when he helped to launch Hogan Lovells’s projects practice with the slogan “improving equality of access to sustainable infrastructure and energy”, and for helping launch HL BaSE the business and sustainable enterprise practice and advising governments and financial institutions on projects connected to sustainability.

• Forward Looking Legal Practitioner: Sharon Lewis, Global Head of Financial Institutions and Insurance Sector. Sharon is highlighted for pioneering practice areas relating to financial technology at Hogan Lovells since the industry first emerged, and leading on the firm’s partnership with Innovate Finance, the trade body for fintechs in the UK. Sharon is also cited for being a sponsor of the Global FinTech Mentor Programme — Hogan Lovells’ fintech incubator — which has supported more than 20 companies in bringing products to market.

The firm also ranked as a case study and for best practice in: 

• Social Justice: Susan Bright, Global Managing Partner for Diversity & Inclusion and Responsible Business, Robert Gardener, Director of Government Affairs, and Yasmin Waljee, International Pro Bono Partner for “A holistic working practices programme to develop skills to help tackle domestic abuse”; The firm is credited for having updated its staff domestic abuse policy to include emergency funds and accommodation, and supported campaigner Sharon Livermore and the Employers Initiative on Domestic Abuse on creating a template domestic abuse policy. Hogan Lovells is also highlighted for working with charity Hestia, the firm developed an app for victims to access support and contributed to the UK’s Domestic Abuse Bill, which gained royal assent in April. Lawyers also helped secure more than £3m in compensation for victims of abuse.

• Diversity and Inclusion: Susan Bright and Bendita Cynthia Malakia, Global Head of Diversity & Inclusion for: “Driving sustainable and collaborative change to deliver on our diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) commitments”. The FT cites the firm for its consulting role advising several clients on diversity, equity, and inclusion strategies alongside our internal employment, investigations and privacy practice areas. In Europe, the firm has introduced billable hours credits for time spent on diversity, equity and inclusion projects. 

This year the Financial Times had a strong focus on celebrating collaboration and diversity.  Where last year’s Awards assessed whether law firms and businesses could be resilient, 2021 looked at whether firms are sustainable and collaborative. It further assesses how law firms use disruption to accelerate developments and collaborate with peers to tackle challenges ranging from geopolitical uncertainty to climate change.

In a statement, Deputy CEO Michael Davison commented: "We are so proud of the recognition of our people as innovative leaders in the profession. Hogan Lovells will continue to champion innovation and remain at the cutting edge of the professional services market."

Last year Hogan Lovells was ranked by the Financial Times as the second most innovative law firm in Europe, and in December 2019 the firm won Most Innovative Firm in Financial Times North America Innovative Lawyers Awards, with former CEO Steve Immelt recognised for his accomplishments in the Innovative Individual category.

The FT Innovative Lawyers Europe report has become one of the top legal rankings in Europe. Over the past fifteen years the FT has assessed legal innovation in over 50 countries from over 400 law firms and 400 in-house legal departments. The Financial Times Innovative Lawyers report is published in conjunction with RSG Consulting.