The BEO, which launched this week, was founded by leaders from business, law, arts and social justice to address structural inequities in careers, education, health, justice, culture, housing and other areas. Six firms―Allen & Overy, Ashurst, Clifford Chance, Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer, Herbert Smith Freehills, and Slaughter and May―provided seed funding and pro bono legal advice on operational and governance issues.
Ashurst counsel Nicole Williams said: ‘The BEO, as the first and only organisation operating at scale to dismantle systemic racism affecting Black communities in the UK, will be key in progressing diversity and removing barriers.’
Deba Das, partner at Freshfields, said the BEO would promote ‘legal rights to eliminate disparities that Black individuals experience, including through strategic litigation’.
Find out more at: blackequityorg.com.