Law firms did the profession proud in this year’s Stonewall Index of top 100 employers for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) workers.
The list includes 12 law firms, with Pinsent Masons in the lead at number five, new entrant Clifford Chance at nine, Baker & McKenzie at 11, Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer at 17, Norton Rose Fulbright at 22, Herbert Smith Freehills at 25, DWF at 56, Hogan Lovells at 57, new entrant Reed Smith at 72, CMS Cameron McKenna at 80, Eversheds at 86, and Dentons at 97.
This represents an increase on previous years—11 law firms were included in 2015, ten in 2014, eight in 2013 and none at all when the index first launched a decade ago.
Simmons & Simmons is rewarded for its consistent top ten placing by being made a Stonewall Top Global Employer and an index “graduate”.
Colin Passmore, Simmons’ senior partner, says: “For our part, clients, visitors, staff and partners of Simmons & Simmons will be treated equally wherever they are in the world.”