Clifford Chance has topped a list of 100 employers with inclusive policies for LGBTQ+ people.
The Canary-Wharf based legal giant has repeatedly reached the top 50 of the UK Workplace Equality Index and last year was one of its gold award-listed firms. Stonewall said it had built further on its values around inclusion and support for LGBTQ+ staff and has championed LGBTQ+ equality across the UK.
The purpose of Stonewall’s index is to reward organisations that strive to include LGBTQ+ people and promote equality internally and externally.
Clifford Chance, the charity said, had implemented policies that ensured LGBTQ+ staff were protected and supported. It had also introduced expansive healthcare benefits that included transition-related treatments and LGBTQ-inclusive mental health support.
The firm had set clear expectations during induction of new staff, added Stonewall, and engaged senior staff in a reverse mentoring scheme to develop their knowledge with the support of more junior LGBTQ+ staff and its LGBTQ+ employee network group, Arcus.
Stonewall also noted that Clifford Chance championed LGBTQ+ equality beyond its offices, lending extensive support and pro bono services to LGBTQ+ campaigns, community groups and charities.
Deon Fang, associate at Clifford Chance, said the firm was honoured to be recognised by Stonewall. He added: ‘People from every part of Clifford Chance have worked together for years to affirm LGBTQ+ colleagues, build LGBTQ+ community and protect LGBTQ+ rights in the world. It is particularly meaningful to receive this recognition for the year we celebrated 15 years of our LGBTQ+ network Arcus. We are focused on working together across the spectrum of LGBTQ+ communities, because equality requires solidarity. Our work continues.’
Overall, private sector organisations made up 57% of firms in the top 100, followed by the public sector (37%) and the third/voluntary sector (8%). Financial services were the most represented in this year’s list (21%), followed by education (16%), health and social care (12%) and the legal sector (11%).
Arup, the engineering consultancy giant, was second, having not been listed in previous years, and charity Victim Support was third. The top listed professional services firm was KPMG, at number 8 in the listing.
This year’s Stonewall index was notable for the unusually high number of retail and engineering firms represented.
Law firms listed on Stonewall’s top 100:
1 Clifford Chance
9 Linklaters
17 DLA Piper
25 Leigh Day
32 Charles Russell Speechlys
36 Irwin Mitchell
38 Mills & Reeve
42 RPC Law
53 Shearman & Sterling
56 Womble Bond Dickinson
96 TLT
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