Pinsent Masons retains top ten ranking in Stonewall’s Workplace Equality Index 2022

Retaining a top ten place for the sixth consecutive year, the firm was praised by the judging panel for its recent work improving bi and trans inclusion in its business. Furthermore, the charity has named Pinsent Masons as a Gold Award Employer in recognition of the advances it has made in LGBT+ inclusion.

Stonewall’s annual WEI ranks the top 100 most inclusive employers across the UK as part of the charity’s commitment to supporting employers to create welcoming workplaces for lesbian, gay, bi, trans and queer people.

Senior partner at Pinsent Masons, Richard Foley, said:

“2022 marks the 15^th year that we’ve contributed to Stonewall’s WEI and we are proud of the work we have done to make Pinsent Masons a more inclusive and welcoming environment for everyone. While celebration of our progress is encouraging, we believe that the value of collaboration across the legal profession and business community as a whole will underpin genuine change. This broad collaboration and commitment to inclusion is our priority and the priority of so many of our peers and clients.

“Social justice, equality and inclusion is important to our people, our clients and our communities and progress is not easily achieved. A commitment to learn, evolve and acknowledge our role in improving society will help us and our peers to continue to promote change and advance inclusion.”

During the last year the firm has strengthened its LGBT+ inclusion and firmwide belonging and inclusion programme, launching a number of programmes designed to improve inclusion across the business. Pinsent Masons rolled out inclusive language training, adopted a digital first strategy for all inclusion events to enable improved accessibility across the business and broadened out its allyship programme allowing people to commit to being an ally for any and all strands of diversity.

Last year the LGBT+ Network held its global conference online with a varied programme aimed at exploring and understanding the different strands within the LGBT+ community, differential experiences across our global offices and the intersectionality across diversity programmes.

Director of Programmes at Stonewall, Liz Ward (she/her), said:

"We’re delighted for Pinsent Masons who’s incredible work towards LGBTQ+ inclusion this year has seen them land at tenth place in the Top 100. Every employer has a duty to make sure that their LGBTQ+ staff are free from discrimination at work, and our Top 100 list, alongside our Workplace Equality Index helps organisations reflect on their inclusion journey and celebrate best practice.

“We spend much of our time at work, and our career can be a huge part of how we define ourselves. That’s why it’s vital that every single lesbian, gay, bi, trans and queer person feels like they can be themselves in their workplace.”