denotes premium content | Nov 19 2008 
News
posted 14 Oct 2008
Clifford Chance releases CSR report
CLIFFORD CHANCE, the world’s largest law firm by revenue, has followed in the footsteps of magic-circle rival Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer by publishing its first corporate social responsibility (CSR) report.
The document includes measurement and analysis of areas such as workforce diversity and environmental impact, and sets out a series of plans to improve its public profile and media reputation.
Statistics include the fact that 15 per cent of the firm’s total number of partners are women, and that the firm performed the equivalent of £18m of legal work in pro bono and charitable activity in the past year.
CSR is an area where large law firms have faced increasing pressure to show more transparency, including a commitment to improving diversity ratios and participating in environmental initiatives. Clifford Chance will be examining its performance in both these areas.
Managing partner David Childs said the firm’s objective was “to develop a corporate social responsibility programme that is recognised as unequalled in the legal profession”.
In late 2007 the firm established a lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) network called Arcus. Its aim was to promote discussion and policies surrounding issues of concern to LGBT employees, and ensure equality of treatment in this particular area of diversity.
