A truly global law firm is built on a diverse culture, reflective of the societies in which we live and work. That’s why inclusivity is key to our success. Here, you’ll be part of an open working environment where you’ll be valued for what makes you different and accepted for who you are.
Our diversity networks connect employees across the firm. They are the vibrant core of our culture, creating an inclusive atmosphere, and performing an influential, educational role through innovative events and initiatives.
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’ve teamed up with PurpleSpace to build disability confidence within the firm and beyond by offering a networking and professional development hub for individuals within our Ability group. We recently hosted a 'Recruitment Roundtable' with Autism Forward, focused on helping autistic people find paid or voluntary employment and reach their full potential.
Visit our profile on MyPlus Students' Club for more information. Or find out more by applying to our disability open day, here.
Our Multiculturalism Network (MCN) supports our commitment to driving racial and cultural diversity in the firm and the legal sector more broadly. The network supports a number of initiatives throughout the year, as well as hosting religious and cultural celebrations, which in the past have included Africa Day, Chinese New Year, Ramadan and Black History Month.
In London, the network also supports the recruitment and retention of individuals from diverse backgrounds. The network provides a forum for regular and constructive dialogue and is integral to the firm’s drive to create a more inclusive environment related to ethnicity, faith and culture. The network has recently facilitated discussion groups around race and structural racism in the wake of the renewed attention being given to the Black Lives Matter movement, contributed to NOTICED's pioneering "Best Practices Report" and established its own mentoring scheme.
Members of the MCN have also been reverse mentoring our UK Executive team, and we’ll be looking to expand the programme this year.
Alongside the work of the MCN, we’re also very proud to be one of the founding members of the Race Fairness Commitment. We’re dedicated to following concrete steps and a data-driven approach that will help drive real change in the ethnic diversity of the firm.
Despite many years of valuable work and progress, the tragic killing of George Floyd in May 2020 made us realise that we were not where we wanted to be as a firm, nor where we should be, in our ethnic representation or our progress in dismantling systemic racism.
After consulting across the firm, we established 10 action areas to improve representation, support and experience for its Black, First Nations, Asian and minority ethnic colleagues.
Our aim is to become an anti-racist organisation, and are committed to confronting the deep-seated inequities from which no society or business is exempt.
Herbert Smith Freehills’ Regional Executives are responsible for ensuring these new commitments are acted upon across the firm’s offices. Each Action is backed by a plan and interpreted locally and regionally to reflect local challenges, cultures and legal nuances.
It’s more important than ever to have a partnership of diverse skills and talents, to help our clients navigate an increasingly complex business and legal landscape. So, in 2019, we reset our bold and ambitious targets – by 1 May 2023, women will comprise 35% of partner and partner leadership roles. We’re also committed to increasing gender diversity, as of May 2019, 27% of our global partnership are women.
In April 2020, we were proud to announce our largest promotion since our merger in 2012, of 26 new partners, with a 50:50 gender balance. Justin D’Agostino, CEO Elect said at the time: “I am particularly delighted that half of our new partners are women, a clear demonstration of the firm's ongoing commitment to gender diversity within the legal profession.”
Our global IRIS Network (Inclusion, Respecting Identity and Sexuality) connects and engages LGBT+ and ally colleagues across the regions, driving change and education across the firm. The network is chaired by the firm's CEO, Justin D'Agostino and has supported a number of key achievements, including: re-launching our trans and non-binary guidelines, supporting pro bono efforts to decriminalise homosexuality and promote LGBT+ rights throughout the world and partnering with LGBT+ organisations and charities to better support LGBT+ communities.
Listen to Scott Warin, an associate at Herbert Smith Freehills, as he talks us through a case he had on the criminalisation of adult consensual same-sex activity:
Find out more by applying to our LGBT+ open day here.
The Family Network exists to support all those with caring responsibilities in its widest sense – from parents, grandparents, guardians to carers of children or others. The network aims to provide awareness and education surrounding some of the common challenges faced by those with caring responsibilities, such as: work/life balance, mental health and families, and organises bring your child to work days.
The network have most recently provided seminars on social media on topics including, raising resilient children and supporting older people throughout the Covid-19 pandemic.
We want our people to be proud of their background. We have a dedicated Social Mobility Partners Steering Group and have recently established a Social Mobility Network. Our Social Mobility Network is focused on supporting individuals from all socio-economic backgrounds to progress through the firm and promoting diverse and visible role models. We’re proud to be ranked 19 in the top 75 UK employers by the Social Mobility Employer Index 2019.
Find out more by applying to our Social Mobility Foundation open day here.
Our UK Military Network raises awareness of the unique skills of those who have served in the military and is focused on trying 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. They collaborate with our clients’ similar networks, strengthening relationships and sharing best practice in this space.
We’re proud to be recognised by the Ministry of Defence with the Silver Award in the 2020 Defence Employer Recognition Scheme. This award was granted in recognition of our outstanding support of the UK’s armed forces and acknowledges the support we provide for defence personnel and their families.
We value the achievements of our people, both past and present and we regularly celebrate them in our Alumni Matters global magazine. Our latest edition includes a range of alumni who explore the profound and exciting changes at play in the global workplace. You’ll find Hon Ng and Fiona McKenzie talking about the exciting landscape of law at Uber, from opposite sides of the globe. David Willis (former joint CEO) reflects on his life post-retirement, as well as his not-for-profit endeavours, and in our lead cover feature, Sally Capp (alumna and Melbourne Lord Mayor) talks to us about ‘purpose and people, not politics’. Each story provides a unique and fascinating insight into the future of work and how businesses and individuals are approaching these changes in a myriad of different ways.
