Latham & Watkins Announces Major Community Partnership With London Academy of Excellence
Latham & Watkins and the London Academy of Excellence (LAE), a highly acclaimed sixth form school for scholars of all backgrounds, cultures and experiences, are delighted to announce a major new multi-year community partnership. Based in Stratford, East London, LAE is one of the highest-performing academic sixth form schools in the UK, with an outstanding reputation for providing opportunities to students from less-advantaged backgrounds. As part of the multi-year collaboration, LAE students will gain substantial access to a variety of Latham resources, including comprehensive mentoring and training programmes delivered by the firm’s lawyers and staff.
“We are thrilled to announce this major partnership with the London Academy of Excellence,” said Stephen Kensell, Office Managing Partner of Latham & Watkins’ London office. “The collaboration is rooted in a shared belief in the power of education to positively influence life outcomes, and an abiding commitment to equip the next generation with the knowledge, skills, and opportunities to help them reach their full potential, regardless of background. LAE provides students with life-changing education and empowering opportunities, and we are incredibly proud to play a part in supporting its efforts to eliminate educational disadvantage and create lasting impact.”
Alexander Crossman, Headteacher of the London Academy of Excellence, adds: “We are delighted to be partnered with Latham & Watkins. Latham has an outstanding reputation in London and globally, and the firm shares our school’s core values and commitment to inclusion. Ensuring that all talented, ambitious young people from all backgrounds can access the very best higher education institutions is critically important to the long-term prosperity of the UK’s legal profession and wider society. With Latham’s generous support, we can continue to provide a first-class sixth-form education for young people living in one of the most disadvantaged parts of the UK.”
Andrea Monks, Deputy Office Managing Partner of Latham’s London office, said: “Latham is deeply committed to advancing diversity in our profession and in our communities. Today, we couldn’t be more proud to announce this substantial partnership with a flagship academic institution like the London Academy of Excellence. The partnership aligns with Latham’s and LAE’s shared commitment to promote equity, advance inclusivity, and create opportunity, and we are humbled to support the young, motivated, and aspiring students at LAE. ”
Sophie Lamb KC, an international arbitration partner in Latham’s London office and first generation professional, adds: “Our partnership with the LAE provides our lawyers and business professionals with a fantastic opportunity to work with the LAE’s many talented and inspiring students. We are excited to play a part in helping the students develop their skills and pursue their academic and personal goals.”
Manoj Tulsiani, a London-based capital markets partner and member of the firm’s LAE Steering Committee, said: “We will offer a wide range of development and training programmes, seminars, and workshops — as well as mentoring and coaching — to support students in their continuing education and eventual careers. To work with the students and watch them grow and succeed will be a unique privilege.”
NOTES TO EDITORS
Latham & Watkins operates worldwide as a limited liability partnership organized under the laws of the State of Delaware (USA) with affiliated limited liability partnerships conducting the practice in France, Hong Kong, Italy, Singapore, and the United Kingdom and as an affiliated partnership conducting the practice in Japan. Latham & Watkins operates in Israel through a limited liability company, in South Korea as a Foreign Legal Consultant Office, and in Saudi Arabia through a limited liability company.
London Academy of Excellence (LAE) is the academic sixth form for independent thinkers. We are committed to our sixth formers developing the knowledge, skills and interests that will give them broad and rich life choices in a complex and changing future. LAE consistently delivers outstanding A level results for all students but has achieved particular success helping students from less-advantaged backgrounds win places at the best universities in the UK and around the world or secure highly competitive apprenticeships.