We are proud to welcome Slater Heelis as a key sponsor for RISE 2026 — and it’s not a token partnership. Their story and values echo much of what RISE stands for.
A Firm With Deep Roots and Modern Values
Slater Heelis is a full-service law firm with more than 250 years of history, serving clients across the UK and internationally from its North West base.
Over those centuries, they’ve evolved with the communities they serve — working with businesses, families, and organisations on everything from commercial and employment law to family matters, real estate, and dispute resolution.
But what really connects Slater Heelis with RISE isn’t just longevity. It’s how they show up.
A Track Record of Inclusion and Social Impact
The firm has an active equality and CSR focus, working with organisations such as the LGBT Foundation and championing initiatives designed to create safe, inclusive spaces for marginalised communities. This commitment comes through in their ongoing support for LGBTQIA+ people, including sponsoring Manchester Law Society’s Pride Afternoon Tea in aid of The Proud Trust, helping LGBTQ+ young people feel seen, supported, and celebrated.
Their ongoing support for LGBTQIA+ communities continues into 2026 through their partnership with Storyhouse, where Slater Heelis will sponsor Storyhouse’s Queer Festival in February and deliver free LGBTQIA+ legal clinics throughout the week, empowering individuals and families with clear, accessible advice.
Their inclusion journey continues internally, too. In 2024, Slater Heelis strengthened its leadership representation by appointing a female Managing Partner – part of an executive team where 50% of leaders are now women, reflecting a deep commitment to equity at senior levels.
In 2025, the firm expanded its accessibility and inclusion work with the launch of a comprehensive Neurodiversity Programme supporting employees and clients with ADHD, dyslexia, dyspraxia, and autism. This includes specialist training from the National Autistic Society and Slater Heelis being listed as a recommended legal service on their platform, ensuring neurodivergent people receive knowledgeable, compassionate support.
Slater Heelis’ community focus also extends to disability inclusion. The firm is proud to support Stockdales, a local disability charity dedicated to helping people with learning disabilities live life to the fullest. Their involvement contributes to Stockdales’ work with more than 200 children, young people, adults, families and carers each year, reinforcing the firm’s belief in dignity, independence, and opportunity for all.
Their impact within the wider community is further reflected in their role as the inaugural Business Club sponsor for FC United of Manchester, supporting community-driven football, social enterprise, and grassroots engagement. Additionally, their partnership with Chester Zoo, announced in December 2025, aligns Slater Heelis with an organisation focused on conservation, sustainability, education, and positive local impact – marking a meaningful milestone in their expansion into the Chester region.
These initiatives are not “branding exercises”; they reflect a sincere, sustained commitment to inclusion, representation, and community leadership.
Why Slater Heelis and RISE Make Sense Together
RISE is about women leading with confidence — in boardrooms, classrooms, clinics, councils, and communities. Slater Heelis specialises in the legal frameworks that sit behind many of those spaces: business growth, employment rights, governance, family structures, property, and more.
Their involvement in entrepreneurship and women’s leadership networks — including advisory roles supporting female founders and innovators across the North — demonstrates a belief in meaningful, long-term change rather than symbolic participation.
And at RISE 2026, Slater Heelis isn’t just a logo on a banner.
They are:
- A thought partner in conversations around law, rights, and leadership
- A resource for women navigating growth, contracts, risk, and regulation
- A visible example of how professional firms can back women’s leadership in a practical, sustained way
In other words: they help turn aspiration into structure — which is exactly what “stage to strategy” requires.
