Clifford Chance

Leading international law firm Clifford Chance has been awarded the Gold Award in this year’s Defence Employer Recognition Scheme, which recognises outstanding employer support towards the Armed Forces community and for the wider principles of the Defence Armed Forces Covenant and the full spectrum of Defence personnel.

Representing the highest badge of honour, Employer Recognition Scheme Gold Awards are awarded to those that employ and support those who serve, veterans and their families.

To gain this Award, entrants proactively demonstrated that service personnel and the wider Armed Forces community are not unfairly disadvantaged during recruiting and selection processes, actively ensure that its workforce is aware of their positive policies towards defence people issues and demonstrated support to mobilisations or have a framework in place by providing additional special leave.

Clifford Chance has a full Reserve Forces policy, which makes provision for mobilisation and an additional 10 day's paid leave for Reserve Forces training. Clifford Chance's Armed Forces Network supports veterans, reservists and military spouses, promotes military charities, including the Royal British Legion and Supporting Wounded Veterans.

Clifford Chance is a founding member of Military in Law Network (MiLNet), which comprises of 48 law firms and aims to promote the Armed Forces Covenant and galvanise support for cross-law firm recruitment activity to attract military leavers to the legal industry.

Clifford Chance also announced its partnership with the Invictus Games Foundation ("IGF") in 2019 and a cross-practice team now supports IGF across a wide range of matters, including most notably advising on the process and agreements for the for the 2022 iteration of the Invictus Games and beyond.

Partner Dorian Drew commented: "Clifford Chance is honoured to have been awarded the Gold Award in this year's Defence Employer Recognition Scheme. We are committed to attracting and supporting colleagues from diverse backgrounds, including veterans, reservists and military spouses, whose knowledge and skills make unique contributions to our firm. This means ensuring we have the right policies in place and that we build and foster an inclusive and flexible culture. This is good for our staff and their families, our firm and our clients, and society."