Besdegül Ünsal has significantly advanced LGBTQ+ inclusion across the legal profession by founding “Legally Queer – Together in Law, United for Pride,” a pioneering initiative uniting competing international law firms in public Pride participation. Since its launch in 2025, the initiative has grown from 10 firms and 250 participants in Frankfurt to 15 firms and over 500 participants in Frankfurt and Munich by 2026, fostering unprecedented collaboration and visibility in a traditionally conservative sector. At Freshfields, where she serves as Business Development Manager, Besdegül has also enhanced LGBTQ+ awareness through innovative educational events, such as a ballroom culture workshop and charity fundraisers supporting local organizations. Drawing on her own experiences as an openly gay Muslim woman of Turkish background, she champions authentic self-expression and community connection, inspiring colleagues to embrace diversity and allyship within and beyond her firm.
