Sidley partner Jade Williams-Adedeji and senior managing associate Francesca Blythe have been honored at the Women in Business Law EMEA Awards 2022. Jade was presented with the “Real Estate Lawyer of the Year” award, while Francesca won the “Rising Star - Corporate” award. The annual awards celebrate women lawyers who have developed strong and innovative practices.
Jade has a wide range of experience in the full life cycle of real estate investment. Her experience covers a wealth of real estate asset classes in both equity and asset investment and includes offices, retail, leisure, logistics, renewable energy, student housing, senior living, and mixed use. Jade regularly advises lenders on real estate matters. Further, Jade has been a strong advocate of assisting the underserved in gaining access to the legal profession. In addition to her practice, she is a 18-year peer supporter of UK charity LawCare, which provides information and assistance to anyone in the legal sector experiencing mental health or wellbeing issues.
Francesca’s impressive practice includes advising international clients on a wide range of data protection, privacy, and cybersecurity issues. She maintains a particular focus in the life sciences industry, where she advises on a broad range of issues in relation to real world evidence and secondary research, clinical studies/investigations, digital health, and the use of novel technologies (including artificial intelligence). Francesca is committed to supporting women, both within the legal profession and in every other walk of life, as is exemplified by her pro bono work. As a dedicated member of Sidley’s London Pro Bono Committee, she has assisted in setting up — and subsequently leading — the firm’s partnership with the Not Beyond Redemption program, which staffs pro bono legal clinics in women’s prisons across the UK to give advice to mothers in order to secure visitation and other family law rights.
