Trio of partners join ranks of BME role models in directory

Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer real estate partner Annette Byron, Ashurst private equity partner David Carter and Allen & Overy banking and finance litigation partner Arnondo Chakrabarti are among the black and minority ethnic (BME) lawyers named as role models in this year's edition of Black Letter Law.

The annual publication, put together by the Black Lawyers Directory (BLD), lists more than 100 black and ethnic minority partners as role models across the UK's top 100 law firms.

The latest issue - launched today (9 October), also cites silks including attorney general Baroness Scotland and 23 Essex Street Chambers' Anesta Weekes, best known for her role as counsel to the Stephen Lawrence enquiry, named.

BLD founder Debo Nwauzu, said: "The guide is considerably longer this year as we have identified so many more BMEs for inclusion, particularly partners in the leading commercial law firms, heads and directors of law, professors of law and general counsel."

The launch comes as the association calls for applications for the 2009 intake of its Legal Launch Pad scheme, which targets minority ethnic law students and non-law students at university. The programme, primarily sponsored by DLA Piper and Barclays Legal, aims to teach students about the legal profession and provide them with work experience.