CMS, Freshfields and others earn spots on high profile gender equality list

Awards showcase employers taking action and making gender equality part of their business strategy at all levels.

Eight law firms have been recognised for their advances in achieving workplace gender equality in  The Times Top 50 Employers for Gender Equality 2023.

The list, published this week, recognised the efforts of Addleshaw Goddard, Burges Salmon, CMS, DWF, Eversheds Sutherland, Freshfields, Linklaters and TLT.

Charity  Business in the Community has run the annual list in conjunction with the media brand since 2010.

The awards showcase the UK employers taking action and making gender equality part of their business strategy at all levels.

Commenting on CMS’ inclusion, Penelope Warne, senior partner, said: “We are delighted to be listed in this year’s report. Our inclusion recognises our commitment to embedding diversity and inclusion through our policies and practices at all levels of the firm and is essential for a successful business, reflective of the clients we work for and the society in which we live.”

Also commenting on Linklater’s ranking, Aedamar Comiskey, senior partner, chair and executive gender champion at the firm, said:

“We’re delighted to be celebrating a decade in The Times Top 50 Employers for Gender Equality list. Delivering for our clients is all about solving their complex problems. To excel for them we need diversity of thought and perspective to drive innovation and good decision making.

“We have set ourselves ambitious diversity goals and we’re proud of the progress we’re making.”

The name of the list, previously The Times Top 50 Employers for Women, was updated this year to reflect that addressing gender equality in the workplace requires achieving equality for all.

The name change reflects that equality work should focus on equality for all genders, as well as those who do not identify as a gender.

Applications were evaluated in three independent rounds of blind assessment on the work undertaken to remove gender inequalities in the workplace, from flexible working to family-friendly policies, to pay, reward, progression at work, and hearing employees’ lived experiences and voices.

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