Twelve new law firms have been added to Stonewall’s diversity champions programme after demonstrating that they have taken practical steps to ensure a positive working environment for gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender staff.
Eighteen law firms in total are now diversity champions and are included in Stonewall’s Starting Out recruitment guide for the 150,000 lesbian and gay students in the UK.
Stonewall chief executive Ben Summerskill commented: “In sectors where there is a competitive recruitment market, when a small number of employers start taking these issues seriously, then others follow.”
The practical steps that firms take will vary from recruitment programmes to leadership and mentoring programmes.
Allen & Overy, Ashurst, Baker & McKenzie, Berwin Leighton Paisner, Bevan Brittan, K&L Gates, Lester Aldridge, Olswang, Reed Smith Richards Butler, Russell Jones & Walker, SJ Berwin and Weil Gotshal & Manges are the new firms. They join Clifford Chance, Herbert Smith, Linklaters, Mayer Brown, Pinsent Masons and Simmons & Simmons.
Diversity among London based firms….
It is well and fine that Stonewall has picked the firms your article named as leaders in Diversity among law firms in London and the UK, which is a great honour. The problem lies that if an organization is a diversity leader, it should reflect the entire organisation which is not the case for any of the firms you mention with one exception, Reed Smith et al. The other firms have not lived up to their recognition as Diversity leaders among people of colour, whereas they may have amongst gays, lesbians and transgender people, which I doubt, unfortunately that there are many black ethnic minorities within those ranks that are “out.” Give recognition but be fair and inclusive, if not, diversity is just another word to throw about to make firms happy and Stonewall pleased with its award.