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CULTURE
Our diversity networks are at the heart of our firm and our Leading for Inclusion strategy. They are a vibrant part of our inclusive culture, influencing key decisions, educating teams and driving change through innovative events, campaigns and initiatives. Joining our networks unlocks a supportive group of role models and peers committed to creating a more diverse and inclusive profession – you will have the opportunity to be involved in some exciting projects from day one. Trainees are offered a partner mentor throughout their training contract and can ask to be paired with someone from a network of their choice. GENDER Leading the profession, we are proud of our progress in this space. Since setting our first gender targets in 2014, the number of women in our partnership has increased by over 50%. We recognise there is more to do, which is why we have recently set new bold and ambitious targets to have women comprise 35% of partners and partner leadership roles, by 1 May 2023. LGBT+ IRIS (our global network for LGBT+ colleagues and allies), connects and engages LGBT+ and ally colleagues across the regions, driving change and education across the firm. The network’s global chair, Justin D’Agostino, has been named in the Financial Times’ OUTstanding list of 100 LGBT+ executives every year since the list’s inception. We have been recognised as a top 100 employer for LGBT+ inclusion by Stonewall since 2016. We actively support a number of LGBT+ initiatives on a pro bono basis. We advise the Human Dignity Trust to help challenge anti-LGBT+ laws across the world and our associates have visited a number of countries to meet and advise local activists. In 2018, we became the first law firm to provide trans-inclusive private medical insurance. FAMILY We are committed to supporting all our people who have caring responsibilities. We provide enhanced parental leave pay and offer coaching for individuals returning from parental leave. Our Family Network fosters a community for colleagues with a range of caring needs and hosts educational seminars on parenting topics. ABILITY Our Ability Network is focused on supporting our people with long-term health conditions or disabilities, as well as those with caring responsibilities and has specific groups focused on topics such as Mental Health, Dyslexia and Autism. We teamed up with PurpleSpace to build disability confidence within the firm and beyond, offering a networking and professional development hub for individuals within our Ability group. We hosted a ‘Recruitment Roundtable’ with Autism Forward, focused on helping autistic people nd paid or voluntary employment and reach their full potential. ARMED FORCES Our Armed Forces Network raises awareness of the unique skills of those who have served in the military and is focused on striving to recruit people from a military background and influencing the firm’s policies to support those who continue to serve as reservists and their families. It creates collaborations with other UK military networks amongst our clients – strengthens relationships and shares best practice in this space. To best serve our clients – as well as ensuring that our recruitment process is inclusive and open to all – we continue to provide an open, dynamic and inspirational working environment.
MULTICULTURALISM Our global MulticulturalismNetwork supports our commitment to driving racial and cultural diversity in the firm and the sector more broadly, and hosts religious and cultural celebrations throughout the year, such as Africa Day, Chinese New Year, Ramadan and Black History Month. The Multiculturalism Network also invests in the recruitment and retention of individuals from diverse backgrounds through various initiatives such as hosting its annual “Multiculturalism in the City” student conference, contributing to NOTICED’s pioneering “Best Practice Report” and proudly sponsoring community fundraisers such as Black British City Group’s “City Generosity”. In the UK, we were recognised as one the best employers for race by Business in the Community 2018. This year, we will be mentoring students through Aspiring Solicitors and launching reverse mentoring programmes across regions. In Asia, we launched a video series exploring the importance of cultural diversity and new perspectives, including an interview with our Greater China Managing Partner. MENTAL HEALTH AND WELLBEING Supporting our employees to prioritise their mental health and wellbeing is more important than ever. We have made a global commitment to enable this and launched an internal hub providing support across a range of areas, including physical, mental, financial, occupational and social wellbeing. We are committed to proactively supporting the mental health of our people, providing awareness sessions, specific training for those with people responsibilities and a mental health champion network (individuals across all areas of the business who are supported to provide effective sign-posting for their colleagues and to raise awareness and communication). This includes signing up to the Mindful Business Charter, an industry-wide collaboration between clients and firms to promote mental health and wellbeing. Two of our partners, Samantha Brown and Chris Parsons, were named in InsideOut’s inaugural list of senior leaders championing mental health within the workplace. SOCIAL MOBILITY We want our people to be proud of their background. We have a dedicated Social Mobility Partner panel and committee, responsible for driving our social mobility strategy. Our Social Mobility Network is focused on supporting individuals from all socio-economic backgrounds to progress through the firm and to share stories about their own backgrounds. We are proud to be ranked 15 in the top 50 UK employers by the Social Mobility Employer Index 2018.
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