The EMpower 50 Ethnic Minority Future Leaders lists celebrate inspirational people of colour who are not senior in their organisations but are making a significant contribution to ethnic minority people at work.
All the executives listed were nominated by peers and employees. Nominations were then reviewed by EMpower’s judging panel, who scored nominees on the influence of their role; their impact on ethnic minority inclusion inside and outside the workplace; and their business achievements.
Among the laureates is Ademola Bamgbose a key member of the global law firm, Hogan Lovells’ Africa practice. Bamgbose is an international arbitration lawyer and is admitted to practice in Nigeria, England and Wales. He joined Hogan Lovells after successfully completing the firm’s inaugural Africa LLM Scheme, and has since played an active role in on-going efforts to promote the scheme and more importantly, promote diversity and inclusion at the firm.
Ademola mentors Black secondees, trainees and interns at Hogan Lovells, providing them with the guidance and support required to excel as a lawyer in the city. He regularly participates in panel sessions for visiting BAME students and actively supports Hogan Lovells participation in Pathways to Law and RARE initiatives. Ademola is on the Steering Committee of Hogan Lovells Multicultural Network and regularly mentors prospective BAME candidates through the rigorous recruitment process for internships and training contracts at city law firms. Ademola co-founded Africa Arbitration, a platform designed to promote Black arbitration practitioners in the UK, US, Canada and globally. Africa Arbitration features a Rising Star and Personality of the Month series, promoting the profiles of arbitration practitioners, and an “Opportunities for Africans” column where commercial law opportunities from around the world are shared with BAME lawyers and students.
As Vice President of the Association of Young Arbitrators in Africa and Chair of the organisation’s Mentorship Committee, Ademola successfully initiated a mentorship programme, by linking young Black practitioners with leading practitioners from around the globe. He is a founding member of the Africa Arbitration Academy, an institution designed to equip arbitration practitioners in Africa, by providing them with free advanced arbitration training at leading commercial law firms in London.
