News
Freshfields joins largest global business community dedicated to improving LGBTQ+ equality
Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer (‘Freshfields’) has joined Out Leadership, the largest global business-focused LGBTQ+ organisation, as part of the firm’s continued focus on building a truly inclusive culture, of which LGBTQ+ is a central part, and to allow for more diversity and inclusion collaboration with global firms.
Out Leadership has more than 80 global members across 13 different industries, including banking and law, and its main priority is ensuring that there is LGBTQ+ representation at the top level. Through its partnership with the organisation, Freshfields will have access to talent accelerator programmes and online summits for its LGBTQ+ colleagues, as well as additional tools to recruit, retain and promote diverse talent to senior roles within the firm.
“We are delighted to join the Out Leadership community, to work together to champion LGBTQ+ inclusion globally,” said Helen Ouseley, the global head of diversity & inclusion at Freshfields. “LGBTQ+ inclusion is central to our diversity and inclusion strategy and I am confident that our partnership with Out Leadership will not only enable us to provide opportunities for colleagues internally to drive progress and engagement, but will also allow us to collaborate with other member firms, to make a greater collective impact around the world,” she added.
Andrew Austin, partner and senior co-sponsor of Halo, the firm’s global network for LGBTQ+ colleagues, commented: “Our people are our priority, and ensuring that everyone feels comfortable bringing their whole selves to work is key. Our partnership with Out Leadership will promote this further and I’m looking forward to collaborating on work both internally and externally, championing equality across organisations.”
Freshfields’ partnership with Out Leadership is part of its broader commitment to championing diversity and inclusion, and more specifically LGBTQ+ equality at the firm and across the industry more broadly. Last month, senior partner Georgia Dawson and head of Asia sanctions, Alexander Dmitrenko, were included in one of the Outstanding LGBT+ Role Model Lists 2020, supported by Yahoo Finance. Georgia’s inclusion in the Top 50 OUTstanding LGBT+ Ally Executive List marks the third consecutive year she has been recognised by OUTstanding and celebrated for being a vocal LGBT+ ally.
The firm was also recognised as a top 20 employer in the Social Mobility Employer Index 2020, the leading authority of employer best practice, demonstrating the firm’s commitment to social mobility in the wake of Covid-19, and also included in Stonewall’s Top Global Employers List 2020, which showcases the best multinational employers for lesbian, gay, bi and trans professionals.
ENDS