Coralie McKeivor collected the Woman of the Year – Gamechanger trophy at the Bristol Women in Business Awards 2026 in March, recognition that her seven-year push to centre disability inclusion in professional services had rewritten how law firms approach workplace barriers.
The Real Estate Director at Freeths won for work judges described as embodying what happens when someone refuses to let systemic problems remain unspoken. Her advocacy—spanning boardroom strategy sessions to one-on-one mentoring—has produced what the judging panel called “positive statistical impact,” though the precise figures weren’t disclosed.
What set McKeivor apart wasn’t just policy work. It was visibility.
Judges praised her for being “a true embodiment of the phrase ‘Be the change you want to see’,” highlighting her courage in making disability a central business conversation rather than an afterthought. The panel noted she had “moved disability inclusion from the sidelines to the centre of the conversation” and demonstrated how “one person’s determination to be visible and vocal can dismantle long-standing barriers and redefine what inclusive excellence looks like.”
The Bristol Women in Business Awards, running since the charter’s 2019 launch, target a specific mandate: recognising people and organisations actively dismantling workplace barriers for women. Categories span gender-balanced leadership, flexible working, and inclusive policy reform. The Gamechanger award goes to someone who has challenged the status quo and acted as a catalyst for systemic change within their industry.
McKeivor’s win reflects broader momentum in professional services, where firms face mounting pressure to move beyond diversity statements into measurable action. Freeths itself holds B Corporation certification—a credential requiring verified environmental and social impact standards—and has collected accolades including Stonewall’s Proud Employer ‘Champion’ status and Gold accreditation from Investors in People in 2025.
The firm, ranked in the UK’s top 50 commercial practices, gained prominence for representing 555 sub-postmasters in their High Court battle against the Post Office, one of Britain’s most significant miscarriages of justice. Clients include Centrica, ENGIE, Aldi, Mercedes-Benz UK, Tarmac, Experian, and Lloyds Bank. Recent honours include Law Firm of the Year at both the City AM Awards 2025 and Legal Business Awards 2024, plus runner-up for UK Firm of the Year at The Lawyer Awards 2025.
Yet McKeivor’s award highlights a different kind of leadership—one focused inward on culture rather than outward on client wins.
“I’m incredibly honoured to receive this award,” McKeivor said. “Hearing the judges describe me as someone who ’embodies the phrase, be the change you want to see’, is deeply moving, and it reinforces why disability inclusion and wider equity work matter so much. I’m passionate about driving meaningful change, whether that’s challenging perceptions at a senior level or supporting colleagues through mentoring and everyday visibility.”
She pointed to shifts across Bristol’s business landscape as evidence that the work extends beyond individual firms. “The shift we’re seeing across Bristol’s business community is inspiring, and I’m proud to contribute to moving inclusion from the sidelines to the centre of the conversation,” she added. “This recognition means a great deal, and it strengthens my commitment to pushing for workplaces where everyone can truly thrive.”
The legal sector has historically lagged on disability inclusion metrics compared to other protected characteristics, with visible disabilities remaining particularly underrepresented at senior levels. McKeivor’s approach—combining senior-level advocacy with grassroots mentoring—addresses both policy gaps and the cultural silence that often surrounds disability in professional environments.
For Freeths, the recognition aligns with its positioning as a firm prioritising social impact alongside commercial performance. Its B Corp status, awarded to companies meeting rigorous verified standards, puts it among a small minority of UK law firms holding the certification. The firm also achieved Tommy’s Champion status in 2025 and appeared in the Legal 500 Green Guide 2026 for sustainability leadership, alongside recognition as a Top 30 Employer by Working Families in 2025.
McKeivor’s initiatives have evidently produced results the judges could measure, though the awards programme didn’t specify whether this meant recruitment figures, retention rates, or employee feedback scores. What’s documented is the qualitative shift: disability moved from a compliance checkbox to a strategic priority.
Whether other professional services firms in Bristol and beyond will follow the model McKeivor has built—and whether her “visible and vocal” approach becomes industry standard—remains an open question. For now, the award marks a moment when advocacy that began with one person’s refusal to stay silent has been recognised as system-changing work.
The Bristol Women in Business community will watch to see if the statistical impacts judges referenced continue growing, and whether the barriers McKeivor has dismantled stay down or require constant defence.
