11KBW, Clifford Chance and Herbert Smith Freehills lead way on London Living Wage

The Living Wage Foundation (LWF) has published a list of the organisations which have adopted the scheme, which also includes Olswang, Mishcon de Reya, Lewis Silkin, Bates Wells & Braithwaite and Match Solicitors.

The Living Wage is a voluntary commitment to pay the lowest-earning staff a minimum wage based on an hourly rate set independently and calculated according to the basic cost of living in the UK.

The UK Living Wage is £7.45 per hour and is calculated by the Centre for Research in Social Policy. The London Living Wage is £8.55 per hour, calculated by the Greater London Authority.

Linklaters is one of LWF’s six principal members and part of its role is to encourage other employers to sign up.

Matt Sparkes, global head of corporate responsibility, said: “Not only is offering the Living Wage the right thing to do, it makes absolute business sense.

“We’re proud to be a founding partner of the initiative, which ensures that we attract and retain the best and most motivated people, whether directly employed by us or by others. We want good people and the Living Wage is an excellent way of getting and keeping them.

11KBW administrator Claire Halas said: “We’re the first chambers to sign up for it because we felt we had a social responsibility to include it as part of our CSR policy.

“We’ve made sure that all of our suppliers, contractors and outsourcers are paying the minimum living wage and it is part of our tendering process too.

“The cost of living and travelling in London is incredibly high and as an employer we take a real interest in our staff.

“I think the fact that the legal sector is well represented on the accredited list shows employers are taking a more responsible attitude.”

The full list of all companies signed up to the LWF scheme.