Our approach to diversity

We work hard to create a culture in which individuals from a wide variety of backgrounds can fulfil their potential and help people around them do the same.Our inclusivity group, comprising partners and senior support staff, was established in 2003 to embed diversity and inclusivity into the infrastructure of the firm, and to promote initiatives designed to address issues facing particular groups who are under-represented across the firm.

We are also the first City law firm to employ a dedicated Diversity Manager to help drive our programme forward.

Our diversity training programme, includes classroom based, interactive diversity awareness training, as well as focus groups based around gender, work/life balance, sexual orientation and gender identity, and ethnicity and multiculturalism.
 
Our staff networks have also been highly successful. These include our women's network, Herbert Smith Women in Business, in which more than half the women in our London office are involved; and our LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender) network, which celebrated its first anniversary in March 2008.

Other initiatives include diversity monitoring, flexible working and family initiatives, such as family-friendly benefits and maternity coaching.

Externally we participate in even more initiatives, including The Gender Trust, the Employers' Forum on Belief and the Stonewall Diversity Champions programme.

In addition we are currently working on a pilot project for law firms with the London Development Agency's Diversity Works for London campaign, we contribute to the Law Society's City Firms Equality and Diversity Forum, and have recently participated in the Black Solicitors Network research programme.