JMW Solicitors’ Suleikha Ali has become one of the first “EDI Champions” named within the prestigious Chambers and Partners directory.

The newly launched EDI ranking recognises lawyers who are contributing to making the world a fairer place, going above and beyond in their contribution to equality - Suleikha is one of just nine lawyers included within the inaugural list.

Suleikha, a Senior Associate within the Clinical Negligence team in the London office of JMW Solicitors, has championed equality, diversity and inclusion throughout her legal career, both in her work for clients and within the firms in which she has worked. In her work as a specialist medical negligence lawyer, she has represented many Black women who have raised concerns that aspects of their care were discriminatory.

Suleikha, said: “The launch of Chambers and Partners’ inaugural EDI table is a significant marker in highlighting the importance of equality, diversity and inclusion. The legal industry has some way to go in terms of EDI, although it’s positive to see inroads being made. I am thrilled and honoured to be among the first lawyers named as an EDI champion and I look forward to continuing to work to deliver meaningful change within the legal sector.”

Throughout her career, Suleikha has made efforts to raise awareness of inequality and the effect of discrimination, as well as to educate those around her on the inequity faced by ethnic minorities. She was one of the founding members of her previous firm’s BAME committee and has provided internal training on issues like unconscious bias and has given talks on improving diversity within law firms.

Outside of the office, drawing on personal experiences and links with the Somali community, Suleikha has supported several ethnic minority groups on a pro bono basis including the charity, Coffee Afrik, in East London, who she is working with to try to reduce health inequalities.

She recently made submissions to the Covid-19 Inquiry on behalf of Coffee Afrik and other Somali-based charities in London. She also plays a key role in supporting the charity, Five X More, which was created to change black women’s maternal health outcomes in the UK. This year, she supported them in the launch of their ‘Black Maternity Experience’ report.

Suleikha has been a committee member of Black Women in Law since 2020 and a committee member of Association of Women Solicitors in London since 2016, campaigning on issues involving women, diversity and access to law. She has shared the story of her journey into law at Kings College and Queen Mary’s University, London and with the Somali Lawyers Association, as well as talking to and mentoring school pupils from less advantageous backgrounds. She is currently mentoring several law students.