Irwin Mitchell to Host Bollywood‑Themed Celebration Championing South Asian Excellence And Inclusion in Law  

Irwin Mitchell is bringing together senior community figures from across the North West to celebrate South Asian culture and promote equality, diversity and inclusion within the legal industry.

The Bollywood‑themed event, titled Making a Remarkable Difference, will take place at Irwin Mitchell’s Manchester office at One St Peter’s Square on Thursday 26 March 2026, with guests arriving from 5:30pm.

Designed to celebrate success stories and lived experience, the evening will feature keynote contributions and cultural performances, alongside opportunities for networking with members across the vastly diverse professional bodies and the wider legal community in attendance.

Confirmed speakers include Alison Eddy, Irwin Mitchell’s Ambassador for Inclusion and IM RESPECT representative, and Geeta Nayar, a Senior Associate in Medical Negligence, who will discuss championing Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) as a leading maternal health campaigner and her own experience of the long term impact of returning to work following traumatic childbirth. 

They will be joined by a range of guest speakers, including:

• HHJ Fayyaz Afzal OBE CBE – Circuit Judge / Designated Family Judge for South Yorkshire and Diversity and Community Relations Judge. The first visually impaired South Asian Judge in England and Wales.
• Dr Ria Meera Munshi – Honorary Doctor of Arts, EDI advocate, TEDx Speaker, TV Bollywood choreographer and cultural entrepreneur. Holder of Bollywood Guinness World Record.
• Amit Ghose – Senior Diversity and Inclusion Business Partner, University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust and author of children’s book “Born Different”.
• Polly Williams – Head of Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) and Wellbeing at the Law Society.

The event will also welcome representatives from the Judiciary (Northern Circuit), Manchester Law Society, Black Solicitors Network, Manchester City Council, Manchester Universities, and other professional organisations from across the North West.

Following the keynote contributions, guests will enjoy an evening of food, Bollywood music, henna painting and an interactive dance experience led by Dr Ria Meera Munshi, celebrating South Asian culture.

Irwin Mitchell aims to use the event as a platform to celebrate the contributions of South Asian professionals, amplify voices from under‑represented backgrounds and promote greater inclusion across the legal sector.

Charlotte Abbott, Solicitor in Irwin Mitchell’s Serious Injury Team and event organiser, said: 

“Irwin Mitchell is known for its welcoming and inclusive culture, where colleagues at every level are valued for their contributions, which play an integral role in the firm’s success. We’re hosting this event under the banner of IM RESPECT, our internal diversity network dedicated to celebrating and supporting colleagues from a range of ethnic, cultural and faith backgrounds.”

Bilal Hussain, Solicitor in Irwin Mitchell’s Serious Injury Team and event organiser, said:

“This event is a chance to celebrate our colleagues’ success, but it is also about listening to South Asian perspectives, learning from lived experiences and using those insights to create real, lasting change. By bringing people together, we want to help build a legal profession that truly reflects the communities it serves, while recognising and celebrating the talent, commitment and impact of our South Asian colleagues and partners, who continue to inspire progress across the sector.”

If you’d like to register your interest, please get in touch with our event organisers Bilal Hussain at bilal.hussain@irwinmitchell.com or Charlotte Abbott at charlotte.abbott@irwinmitchell.com.