Diversity & Equal Opportunities

We are convinced, as a matter of plain common sense, that treating individuals equally and with the same attention, courtesy and respect regardless of disability, age, gender, marital or civil partnership status, race, colour, national or ethnic origin, religious belief or sexual orientation is more than an issue of compliance with anti-discrimination legislation. A diverse work force enhances the service we provide to our clients and results in a more stimulating and rewarding environment in which to work.

Our commitment to diversity starts with the Managing Partner and Senior Partner who are both members of our diversity committee. Siân Keall is the partner responsible for promoting diversity and inclusion. 

We are founding signatories of the Law Society´s Diversity and Inclusion Charter and are, amongst other things, developing good diversity practice by collecting and sharing with other signatories examples of practical activities that contribute to progress in this area. Further information can be found at:

http://www.lawsociety.org.uk/productsandservices/inclusioncharter/charter.page 

We are proud to be members of Stonewall's Diversity Champions Programme and have an active LGBT group which amongst other activities, regularly participates in InterLaw events.

We are committed to PRIME, an organisation that promotes work experience programmes for children from less privileged backgrounds. We plan to host our first PRIME work experience programme in October 2012.

Each year we conduct a monitoring exercise which helps us to evaluate the diversity of our staff and partners. In 2012, this revealed that out of a total staff of 466:

• 43 were from ethnic minority backgrounds, four were disabled, with 226 males and 240 females
• Among the 41 trainees, 26 were male and 15 were female. Seven were from an ethnic minority background or disabled
• Among the 201 qualified solicitors and other fee-earners below partner level, 14 were from ethnic minority backgrounds, 108 were male and 93 were female. None were disabled
• Among our 158 non-legal staff, 23 were from ethnic minority backgrounds, 36 were male, 122 were female and one was disabled
• Among our 66 partners, one was from an ethnic minority background, 56 were male, ten were female and one was disabled
• Of partners appointed since 2008, 21% are female