Clifford Chance

Clifford Chance has been ranked the top law firm in Stonewall's Top 100 Employers 2022

International law firm Clifford Chance has climbed from 19th to 3rd place in this year's Stonewall Top 100 Employers List – the highest ranked law firm in the list, which celebrates the pioneering efforts and commitments of leading organisations to LGBT+ workplace inclusion. The firm has also been awarded a Gold Award for commitment to LGBT+ inclusion at work and its affinity network, Arcus, has received the Highly Commended Network Group Award, which is given to the organisations with the highest scores in the Network Activity section of the Index.

Michael Bates, Clifford Chance UK Managing partner, comments: "These awards recognise our efforts to embed inclusion, a core value of our firm, within every aspect of our business. What is most satisfying for me as Managing Partner is that this reflects how we truly see and value all of our LGBT+ colleagues and I hope that these recognitions are a source of great pride and joy to all. We are determined to celebrate this and to continue to build on this success. There is nothing inevitable about inclusion, we all have to work to deliver it."

Georgina Court, Co-Chair of Clifford Chance’s UK LGBT+ & Allies Network Arcus alongside Co-Chair Deon Fang, said: "We are delighted to celebrate another year as a top Stonewall employer. The scoring rise is a reflection of all the work that many different parts of the firm - from recruitment, to procurement, pro bono community engagement and the LGBT+ network Steering Committee do to ensure that inclusion is a priority at Clifford Chance. With an increased focus on supporting people through the pandemic and making sure the network was more joined up and active than ever before, regardless of being distanced from each other physically, we've developed our LGBT+ support for people in incredible ways, fostering a culture of learning, respect, understanding, collaboration, teamwork and belonging."

Clifford Chance's goal is to be the global law firm of choice for LGBT+ people and for LGBT+ causes. The firm will be participating in the 2022 global Stonewall index this year in addition to the UK index and has developed a global program of initiatives designed to help deliver greater equality for LGBT+ people within the organisation, build the capacity of clients to be stronger supporters of equality, and drive real change across the world.

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

Stonewall is the UK’s leading charity for lesbian, gay, bi and trans equality. The full Top 100 list this year can be found on the Stonewall website.