LGBTQ+ Community
Celebrating our LGBTQ+ colleagues, clients and the community
Our goal is simple: to ensure that our LGBTQ+ colleagues, clients and the community know that Blake Morgan is a place where they will feel safe, accepted and celebrated. Our approach is driven by the following key themes:
Small things make a big difference
Simple acts and commitments can have a significant impact on ensuring the LGBTQ+ community feel supported and celebrated – not just tolerated.
Visibility is vital
We want it to be crystal clear from the moment someone first hears about Blake Morgan that we are an inclusive firm. We don’t want a same-sex couple wondering if we’re the right firm to provide a legal service to them or a trans individual to think twice about whether Blake Morgan is the right employer for them. We want the LGBTQ+ community left in no doubt.
Educate with empathy and without judgment
We want allies to know that they’re not expected to be subject-matter experts, nor will they be judged if they make a mistake (we’re all human!). All we ask for is a willingness and enthusiasm to learn and support the community and to feel empowered as allies.
EDI can be fun
It is a difficult time for the LGBTQ+ community, particularly for certain parts of it such as the trans community. However, we believe that fun can be had along the way (just look at the fun that is had at Pride events across the UK).
There’s no one way to be an ally – but showing up matters. We hope you will join us in our journey.
Main areas of focus
BM Pride
BM Pride is Blake Morgan’s LGBTQ+ network, supporting colleagues and allies across all our offices. The network brings people together through events, education and shared experiences, helping create a culture where LGBTQ+ colleagues feel visible, supported and celebrated, and where allies are empowered to play an active role.
Education & allyship
Education underpins our approach to LGBTQ+ inclusion. We deliver talks, resources and events that build awareness while empowering allies to support the community with confidence. Our focus is learning without judgement – creating space for curiosity, conversation and growth at every level of the firm.
Inclusive leadership
We believe leadership and visibility matter. Our commitment to LGBTQ+ inclusion was recognised externally when our LGBTQ+ Inclusion Champion, Jack Wiseman White, was shortlisted for Diversity Champion of the Year at the British Diversity Awards, reflecting the impact of lived experience leadership, authentic allyship and sustained commitment to inclusion.
LGBTQ+ History Month
We collaborate with external partners to deliver educational, story led content. Recent initiatives include a joint conversation series with BDO, a leading UK accountancy and business advisory firm, exploring lived experiences, history and allyship alongside expert talks from guest speakers such as Oscar Davies (they/them), the UK’s first publicly recognised non binary barrister.
Pride Month
Each year we mark Pride Month across all our offices with visible, inclusive celebrations. These include Pride themed events, talks, quizzes, puzzles and social activities, alongside firm wide engagement initiatives such as our rainbow lanyard scheme. These shared moments help create belonging, spark conversation and demonstrate everyday allyship in action.
Pride in the community
We believe allyship means showing up. Colleagues from across Blake Morgan have proudly attended local Pride events, including Southampton Pride and Cardiff Pride to celebrate LGBTQ+ identities and visibly demonstrate our commitment to inclusion beyond the workplace.
Key contacts
Jack Wiseman-White (he/him) | Legal Director (FCILEx) | LGBTQ+ Inclusion Champion
Jack is a Legal Director (FCILEx) in Blake Morgan’s Risk & Compliance team and the firm’s LGBTQ+ Inclusion Champion, leading the BM Pride network.
Jack is passionate about creating a workplace where LGBTQ+ colleagues feel visible, supported and able to thrive. He brings a strong focus on allyship, education and lived experience, believing that small actions can make a meaningful difference.
Jack regularly champions inclusion through internal initiatives, external partnerships and sharing of his lived experiences. Jack was shortlisted for Diversity Champion of the Year at the British Diversity Awards in recognition of this work.
As a proud member of the LGBTQ+ community and a parent to two young children, Jack is committed to helping shape a more inclusive and respectful future for all.
Amber Chapman (she/her) | Solicitor | BM Pride Group member
Amber is a Solicitor in Blake Morgan’s Court of Protection team and has been an active member of BM Pride since joining the firm as a trainee in 2023.
Since becoming involved with the network, Amber has played a key role in organising Pride Month celebrations across the firm, helping to deliver a range of awareness initiatives, office events and social activities.
Amber regularly attends LGBTQ+ legal networking events and is proud to support Blake Morgan’s presence at local Pride celebrations, helping to strengthen connections both within and beyond the legal profession.
Through her work with BM Pride, Amber champions year-round inclusion and community engagement.
Amber firmly believes that Pride, representation and education have never been more important than they are today.
Tina Whitman (she/her) | Legal Director | BM Pride Group member
Tina has worked for Blake Morgan for 26 years. She went to school and university in the era of section 28 and saw first hand the effect that intolerance can have.
She is a member of the Strategy Group for BM Pride LGBTQ+ with a particular focus on allyship as one way of fostering an open, supportive and safe environment for all.
Tina has written articles for publication on Blake Morgan’s intranet during Pride Month and for International Allyship Day raising awareness about the role that allies can play in supporting the LGBTQ+ community.
As part of LGBTQ+ History Month in 2026, Tina was recorded in conversation about school life and the LGBTQ+ community in the 1990s.
In recent years, Tina has provided significant support in raising awareness of Pride Month and the Cardiff Pride March, with attendance and engagement increasing yearly. She became the Inclusivity Lead for the Cardiff office on 1 May 2026 and will have a key role to play in ensuring the Cardiff office maintains its proud record of engagement.
Thomas Tanner | Paralegal | BM Pride Group member
After completing his vacation scheme with Blake Morgan in June 2024, during Pride Month, Tom was struck with the clear signs of acceptance and community within Blake Morgan’s London Office. He felt that he would be able to turn up to work each day at Blake Morgan as his true self. This was a significant part of his reasoning to choose Blake Morgan as his employer, and his reasons behind getting involved in the work of BM Pride and its strategy group.
Tom hopes to continue the work of those who have come before him and wishes to continue to make Blake Morgan feel like a welcoming place for the next generation of excellent legal professionals.
Tom has been involved in discussions regarding the firm’s Pride month plans and has been involved in making both video and written article content for the firm’s Pride network.
Katie Edwards | Associate | BM Pride Group member
Katie is an Associate in Blake Morgan’s Property Services Group, who specialises in acting for Social Housing providers. She is also an active member of the strategy group for the BM Pride network.
Katie has been part of organising Pride themed events within the Cardiff office and helped to facilitate Blake Morgan’s participation in community events such as Pride Cymru.
Through her involvement with BM Pride network, Katie hopes to contribute to the firm’s inclusive culture.
Darcie Barnes | Learning and Development Administrator | BM Pride Group member
Darcie joined Blake Morgan in the summer of 2025 after she finished college, and is now in her role as a Learning and Development Administrator. She splits her time working within the EDI team, while also completing a Business Admin apprenticeship. After reading different internal articles and seeing recent activity regarding LGBTQ+ topics on the news she realises the ongoing need for support from allies.
After getting involved in different Pride related events within the offices she has seen the difference that creating a safe and inclusive culture can make within the workplace. She continues to want to help individuals from a LGBTQ+ background regardless of if this is a colleague or a client so they feel like they are always welcomed and supported in Blake Morgan.
Within the workstream alongside her role in the EDI team, Darcie helps with the admin side and ensuring articles, events and additionally celebrations run smoothly. Alongside this Darcie helps with different EDI central projects.
David Max Barra | Associate | BM Pride Group member
David Max Barra is an Associate in Blake Morgan’s Corporate Immigration team and an active member of the BM Pride. In his role within the workstream, David is committed to supporting and celebrating Blake Morgan’s LGBTQ+ community while helping to raise awareness of the issues, experiences and perspectives that matter to LGBTQ+ colleagues and allies.
David joined the BM Pride workstream because he believes that everyone should feel able to bring their authentic selves to work. He is passionate about helping to create an inclusive environment where LGBTQ+ colleagues feel respected, valued and empowered to succeed.
For David, meaningful inclusion is built through everyday actions, open conversations and a genuine commitment to understanding and supporting one another.
As a member of BM Pride, David contributes to initiatives that promote visibility, education and engagement across the firm. He enjoys taking part in awareness campaigns, supporting Pride-related events and encouraging discussions that help foster a culture of understanding and allyship. Through his involvement, he aims to help ensure that LGBTQ+ voices are heard and represented, while encouraging greater awareness of the challenges and opportunities facing the community.
David values the opportunity to work alongside colleagues who share a commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion, and is proud to play a part in helping Blake Morgan create a workplace where everyone can thrive.
Partnerships and resources
We are proud members of Inclusive Companies and have been recognised in the Inclusive Top 50 UK Employers Index for nine consecutive years, reflecting our ongoing commitment to embedding equality, diversity and inclusion across all areas of our firm.
Stonewall is part of a vibrant, growing and global movement advocating for LGBTQ+ rights. Over the last 35+ years, we have helped create transformative change in the lives of LGBTQ+ people in the UK.
Visit the Stonewall website to view resources.
Just Like Us is an LGBT+ young people’s charity. Founded in 2016, they work with schools and young people across the UK to change this.
Visit the Just Like Us website to find out more and view resources.
