Herbert Smith Freehills named Top Global Employer for LGBT staff

Herbert Smith Freehills has been recognised as one of Stonewall's Top Global Employers 2017, the annual ranking that celebrates pioneering efforts to create inclusive workplaces across the world. This year, 12 organisations have been featured in the list, one more than last year. 

2017 is the first time Stonewall announces the Top Global Employers separately from the UK Top 100 and to celebrate the launch of the global index, a ceremony will take place in London on Monday 3 July supported by Herbert Smith Freehills.  Speakers at the event include Herbert Smith Freehills' Global Head of Disputes Justin D'Agostino, as well as UK Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson and Stonewall Chief Executive Ruth Hunt.

Stonewall’s Top Global Employers is the definitive list showcasing the best multinational employers for lesbian, gay, bi and trans (LGBT) staff. The list is compiled from submissions to the Global Workplace Equality Index, a powerful benchmarking tool used by employers to create inclusive workplaces across the markets in which they operate.

The index ranks firms on the basis of their performances across nine different areas of employment policy and practice, examining both global working structures and operational country activity.

Justin D'Agostino, the Executive Sponsor of Herbert Smith Freehills' IRIS Network, said: "This is a great recognition of our efforts to create an LGBT inclusive culture across our global network of offices. I am proud that we are a firm which is true to our values and willing to push the needle on inclusion. LGBT is an integral part of our wider strategic drive on diversity and inclusion which is about being a great place to work, attracting and retaining the most talented people and engaging with our clients through shared values and authentic relationships.  I am also delighted to see the Government's strong stance in support of LGBT inclusion."

Ruth Hunt, Chief Executive, Stonewall said: “Herbert Smith Freehills, and all of our Top Global Employers, have demonstrated a real commitment to ensuring that all lesbian, gay, bi and trans staff and stakeholders feel included at work. These businesses truly are at the forefront of driving global LGBT inclusion in the workplace, and between them reach over 1.5 million people. There is so much left to do to ensure that lesbian, gay, bi and trans employees feel able to be themselves at work no matter where they are. Stonewall’s Top Global Employers continue to not only roll out the best practices to achieve that, but are also great examples of businesses that imbed a culture of inclusion that is integrated across all of the work that they do.”

About Herbert Smith Freehills

Operating from 26 offices across Asia Pacific, EMEA and North America, Herbert Smith Freehills is at the heart of the new global business landscape providing premium quality, full-service legal advice. The firm provides many of the world’s most important organisations with access to market-leading dispute resolution, projects and transactional legal advice, combined with expertise in a number of global industry sectors, including Banks, Consumer products, Energy, Financial buyers, Infrastructure & Transport, Mining, Pharma & Healthcare, Real estate and TMT. www.herbertsmithfreehills.com

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