Clifford Chance

International law firm Clifford Chance has seen three of its people feature in the OUTstanding LGBT+ Role Models 2019 list, presented by Yahoo Finance. OUTstanding is part of membership organisation INvolve, and the list celebrates the work done by LGBT+ and ally leaders across the globe in both the private and public sectors. Ilse van Gasteren, a Partner in the Amsterdam office, is named in the Outstanding 100 LGBT+ Executives, while Eraldo d'Atri, a Senior Associate in London, and Nathan Eastwood, a Senior Associate in Sydney, are included in the OUTstanding 50 LGBT+ Future Leaders’ list for the second consecutive time.

Ilse is an active member of Clifford Chance's Diversity Working Group, championing gender equality issues and tirelessly supporting LGBT+ initiatives. In the past few years, Ilse has given several speeches within the firm about diversity, gender equality and her personal journey as an LGBT+ lawyer. Ilse regularly shares her experiences with staff in regions where being openly gay is more problematic.

Eraldo is the Co-chair of Arcus, Clifford Chance’s LGBT+ & Allies Network, and is focused on building bridges with other minority communities and expanding co-operation with charities. Eraldo helped Arcus grow from a London initiative to a global LGBT+ network. He mentors junior LGBT+ lawyers and reverse mentors the firm’s senior leaders on LGBT+ issues. Additionally, he is a member of the firm’s Pay Gap Working Group and was instrumental in Clifford Chance becoming the first law firm to publish its sexuality pay gap. He also founded the firm's LGBT+ Parents group to allow actual or prospective LGBT+ parents to share experiences and support.

Nathan is the Australian lead for Arcus. Nathan has led several ‘first of their kind’ Australian workplace initiatives and is also a reverse mentor in relation to LGBT+ diversity and inclusion to the firm’s senior managing partners, both globally and in Asia-Pacific. Nathan has hosted numerous internal and external activities to raise awareness for LGBT+ inclusion including: delivering presentations on the importance of allies; delivering training at partnership level; organising training on trans and intersex awareness, and championing important days in the LGBT+ calendar. Nathan established a dedicated LGBT+ pro bono practice in Australia and was also appointed an Officer of the International Bar Associations' LGBT Law Committee.

Tiernan Brady, Global Head of Inclusion at Clifford Chance, comments: "Here in the firm we are immensely proud of Ilse, Eraldo and Nathan for being named in this prestigious list of LGBT+ role models. They have been powerful role models and campaigners for equality within the firm and beyond. We believe inclusion is a core value of both Clifford Chance and of the law. When you believe in a set of values then you have to go out and fight for them every day, and that's exactly what Ilse, Eraldo and Nathan have inspired others to do within Clifford Chance, our clients and the wider world."

To see the full OUTstanding LGBT+ role model lists, see here.

Earlier this year, Clifford Chance partnered with the Human Rights Campaign, the world's largest LGBT+ civil rights organisation with more than 3.5 million members and supporters, to bring strategic impact litigation in support of LGBT+ rights and equality worldwide. Additionally, the firm achieved Mansfield Certification in the USA, which commits the firm to measures including considering a minimum of 30 percent women, LGBT+ and minority lawyers for significant leadership roles.

Founder & CEO of INvolve, Suki Sandhu OBE, says, “We’re delighted to be celebrating another fantastic group of people from across the globe who are collectively driving cultural change and creating workplaces where everyone can succeed. LGBT+ discrimination is still prevalent in a lot of the world’s biggest economies, but highlighting the work of successful role models changes people’s perceptions. They demonstrate that you can be successful and out at work, but most importantly inspire the next generation of LGBT+ leaders.”

Further information on Clifford Chance's commitment to LGBT+ rights and equality can be found in its annual Responsible Business Report, which the firm publishes in accordance with the United Nations Global Compact.