International legal practice Osborne Clarke has won two awards at the Legal500 ESG Awards 2024, which aim to celebrate the very best Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) initiatives across the UK legal market.
This prestigious inaugural event recognises organisations and individuals for their efforts to bring about change across all aspects of ESG; across diversity, inclusion, environmental and sustainability initiatives and strategies.
Women in Law : Best Initiative to Improve Female Representation within Senior Ranks
Central to Osborne Clarke's winning entry was the firm's Gender Action Plan, which sets the target of 30% women in partnership by 2025, enabled through various internal processes and policies aiming to improve the gender balance in senior positions.
Last year, 50% of the firm's Partner promotions were female, with female representation in Partnership growing 1% year-on-year since 2020.
The firm's gender network, OC Gender, was recognised for driving awareness campaigns and reverse mentoring programmes, as well as launching its Family & Carers Group and supporting the firmwide Inclusion Allies Programme.
LGBTQ+ Initiative of the year
Osborne Clarke took home the top prize in this category, which recognised the outstanding work of its LGBTQ+ employee network, OC Pride.
In 2023, the network saw a 15% increase in memberships, had over 600 people engage with its pronoun badge initiative, and led on various awareness days, both for colleagues and clients.
OC Pride's work is reflected in the firm's Trans inclusion policy, dedicated LGBTQ+ mental health support, inclusive benefits offering, Inclusion Allies Programme and participation in the Stonewall UK Workplace equality index.
Osborne Clarke was also shortlisted for Best Initiative Environmental/Sustainability Strategy and DE&I: Law Firm Initiative of the year.
"It's great to see the work of our brilliant diversity networks and responsible business team recognised at such a prestigious event, especially considering how strong the competition was across all categories.
"ESG is not only an integral part of our own firm strategy, but is an area that we're increasingly advising our clients on, too. It's important that we demonstrate own strong ESG credentials and hold ourselves accountable first to be regarded as a trusted advisor in this space."
Osborne Clarke's multi-disciplinary ESG team brings together experts specialising in the environment and decarbonisation, sustainable finance, social and human capital and corporate governance to lead clients through the development and implementation of a successful ESG strategy. Osborne Clarke For Good is the firm's way of ensuing it's a good corporate citizen, a good employer and a good business.
