Clifford Chance

Leading international law firm Clifford Chance has won Best Internal Engagement Campaign, Best Global HR Initiative and Most Innovative People Initiative at the People In Law Awards 2022. In addition, Leana Coopoosamy-Pearson was also Highly Commended in the Best People Professional category.

In acknowledging Clifford Chance's Best Internal Engagement Campaign for its Enable: My Lived Experience campaign, the judges "were impressed by the holistic approach adopted by Clifford Chance in its campaign of cultural change and inclusion. With very clear goals they used powerful storytelling to engage across the firm to build support, empathy and behaviour change."

The Enable: My Lived Experience campaign features people across Clifford Chance talking about their visible and non-visible disabilities and what it means for them for them in their day-to-day role at the firm. The stories have gone on to become some of our most read ever on our internal news platform and have had a profound impact on many. Lou Zabbar and Ashika Patel, co-chairs of our Enable network, commented: "This campaign would have not been possible without all of the individuals who shared their lived experiences. We are immensely proud of what the network has achieved over the past year, and all the amazing work that has been done across the firm to drive disability inclusion."

Tiernan Brady, Global Head of Inclusion, added: "This is such a deserved tribute to our Enable network. It is wonderful to have the campaign recognised externally. It is also a reflection of how powerful the campaign was internally. The My Lived Experience campaign created a visibility and energy that has challenged the stigma faced by people living with disabilities. It is such a powerful example of how the best campaigns remind us that inclusion is not a "what", it is a "who". Thank you to all who told their stories."

On Best Global HR Initiative, the judges "were impressed by the scale and reach of the Clifford Chance Global Virtual Internship initiative to improve access to the profession for those from under-represented groups, doing so through a number of collaborations, by ensuring relevance in their market, and by testing their approach with their future trainee cohorts." Clifford Chance used the pandemic as a catalyst to develop a series of Global Virtual Internships which provide equal access to world-class resources, and ultimately removing barriers to the profession. Working with colleagues across our international network, we created over 50 hours of modular content on topics including Cyber Security, Sustainable Finance, and Antitrust. So far there have been over 90,000 enrolments globally with participants from over 3,600 universities in 180 countries with completions at 13% against an industry average of 3%.

And on Most Innovative People Initiative, "LIFT really grabbed the judges with its extremely aspirational scope as a powerful social mobility tool, and developing commercial skills which set candidates from diverse backgrounds on the path to success as a lawyer." Clifford Chance created its Learning Internships for Future Trainees programme (LIFT) to offer exclusive, paid, internship opportunities to new hires before starting. This innovative, industry-first programme prepares our future trainees for the transition from graduate to professional by providing structured work experience in a broad range of sectors, along with bespoke, personal and professional development opportunities.

Grant Eldred, Chief People Officer, comments: "We are delighted to be recognised at the People in Law Awards. As a firm, we are truly committed to improving access to the legal profession. Our Global Virtual Internships and pioneering LIFT programme are examples of how we continue to break down barriers to deliver positive impact and access to opportunities."

Congratulations to everyone involved in this success!