D&I Highlights from Chambers USA 2020
The 2020 edition of Chambers USA is the most comprehensive guide yet. As our research process continuously evolves with the latest technology, sector developments and client needs, we are delighted to now include more in-depth coverage of ranked firms and individuals than ever before.
One of the key areas we have been making changes in is our approach to diversity and inclusion. While the last five years have seen the percentage of ranked lawyers who are female gradually increasing, we did not feel this was enough to accurately reflect top talent in the profession.
In our 2019 research cycle we introduced to our research a question on diversity and inclusion, as well as encouraging an even gender-split of client referees. We are delighted to say that, since those changes were made, the percentage of newly ranked lawyers who are female has jumped from 25% to 32%.
This was the result of positive action taken by our editorial, D&I and leadership teams. The results have been positive but we know there remains a long way to go to ensure our rankings are reflective of the diversity of the profession. We will continue to work with our D&I team to make progress and expand the network of firms we consider.
Significantly, this shift in our research process has led to eight members of the National Association of Minority and Women Owned Law Firms (NAMWOLF), with whom we started an official partnership in 2019, now being ranked. By actively seeking firms outside of the traditional structure, we have opened up a new network of referees that reflect the breadth of the profession.
We look forward to celebrating the success of both private practice and in-house firms and individuals at the Chambers D&I Awards: North America 2020. Since the initiative launched, we have grown a fantastic network of general counsel who regularly share their insights on diversity and inclusion best practice. The companies that have submitted for the 2020 awards include a range of organisations such as Novartis, Credit Suisse, Morgan Stanley, AT&T and Diageo.