Taylor Wessing

Diversity at Taylor Wessing:

Balance in Business

Gender balance is one of the Firm’s strategic priorities with the goal to achieve better gender balance in partnership and in leadership roles across the firm. Our Gender Plan builds on the work already taking place within the firm to promote gender equality. Our leadership teams regularly review our plan to achieve better balanced leadership, optimise talent retention, improve modern working practices and enhance our clients’ experience. Our Balance in Business Network works to ensure we level the playing field so gender isn’t a factor for career success. On top of challenging perceptions when hosting discussions and client round tables on key issues, the network recently sponsored the unveiling of a new piece of artwork at the Supreme Court celebrating 100 years of women in law.

Cultural Diversity Network

Increasing the representation of people from minoritized communities at Taylor Wessing is one of the Firm’s strategic priorities.  Our cultural diversity network was established so that we can learn from each other and celebrate different cultures. It works to encourage more individuals from diverse backgrounds to enter into the legal sector and remove any barriers they face to achieve their goals and aspirations. Racism and racial injustice have no place in our world. We all play a crucial role in making progress, and our commitment to working with diversity platforms enables us to find more and better ways to do that. It’s through working closely together, we can continue to collaborate and challenge the prejudice and privilege which stops us reaching our goal of a fairer and more equal society.

EqualiTW

We’re committed to providing a workplace where people can be themselves and where their talent can flourish no matter their sexual orientation or gender identity. EqualiTW, our LGBTQ+ and allies network run a dedicated programme of support and initiatives throughout the year, as part of our commitment to LGBT+ inclusion. The network’s activities help out people learn more about key issues and increase support for the LGBT+ community. We are proud to be ranked in Stonewall’s Top 100 Employers for the third year in a row. In 2020 we placed 51st among all UK employers, and in the top 10 of top law firms on the list.

Wellbeing Network

Maintaining a positive approach to disability, mental health and wellness in the workplace is of huge importance to us. Central to this is a commitment to reducing the stigma surrounding mental health and supporting everyone’s general wellbeing. Our Wellbeing network helps to raise awareness of visible and invisible disabilities, creating an accessible and safe working environment and to promote wellbeing initiatives as a way of preventing the onset of physical and mental health conditions. The network helps to host regular sleep clinics, yoga classes, lunchtime learning with qualified doctors and psychologists as well as other events through the support of 65 mental health champions and first aiders, as well as access to the Headspace app. In November 2019, we won the new entrant category for the FT and Vitality’s Britain’s Healthiest Workplace for medium-sized companies, and continue to put the health of our employees as a priority.

Social Mobility Network

Our social mobility network works to improve access to the legal profession through school and student outreach. Your potential, ability and talent – not your socio-economic background or schooling – determines your success at Taylor Wessing. We open up opportunities in the legal sector and make talented people of all backgrounds feel welcome, along with supporting a number of powerful initiatives. We’ve recently signed up as a partner of the 93% Club.  We’re proud of all of our Social Mobility programmes and the impact they have on participants and our business.  By supporting the 93% Club we hope to make our talent even more diverse, build their confidence, increase their knowledge of the range of careers in an international law firm and inspire them to reach their full potential.