Emma Waddingham is the Editor & Founder of Legal News Wales. She is a seasoned legal editor and journalist focused almost exclusively with the legal sector of England and Wales.
She founded legalnewswales.com – a unique media platform for the legal sector in Wales in March 2020 – to elevate and showcase the legal sector in Wales and to build resilience in the business of law. She has a passion for driving equality, diversity and inclusion initiatives that help support and reflect the communities served by lawyers and professional services.
Emma was dubbed the ‘glue that holds the legal sector in Wales together’ by the Counsel General of Wales and Minister for the Constitution, Mick Antoniw MS, in a speech given at the Legal Wales Conference 2023. She is the Conference Director for this annual event, the largest and most prestigious legal sector Conference and Dinner in Wales.
Emma is the current Junior Vice President of Cardiff & District Law Society – the first non-lawyer to be elected to the role for the largest regional law society in Wales. She becomes President in November 2025. She is also the Conference Director for the annual Legal Wales Conference and sits on a multitude of legal organisations and committees, including the Pro Bono Committee for Wales.
Emma also has a long-established, award-winning portfolio of marketing and business development experience, having worked with a range of national and regional clients in the legal, property and financial advice sectors.
What does “paving the way” for future generations mean to you?
Equality, diversity and inclusion initiatives, mentorship and examples of progress have never felt more abundant in the legal profession, and should absolutely be celebrated but, I feel, what is lacking is active support in our day-to-day work. There are legal practices that get it right, but as individuals we can always do more. This is especially true for women in the legal profession. I think our places are often so hard fought for that we defend them too tightly, forgetting to allow the next generation to shine – in some cases we allow those coming through to fight just as hard. Not only do we need to show others what can be achieved to inspire the next generation, we have to create opportunities to make careers happen without allowing the same barriers to fall down behind us. Being more equitable can also open doors to intersectional diversity, and diversity of thought. For me, paving the way means walking the next generation in alongside us, not always behind us or in our shadow.
