As the world becomes more complex, we must give our clients the perspectives and insights they need to meet their challenges and realise their visions. For our clients to succeed, Clifford Chance has to be a place where our people can perform at their peak and give our clients the best advice they can get.
To do this, we seek out, develop, and nurture people who are as diverse as our ever-broadening client base. It is crucial that we provide an inclusive culture where people from diverse backgrounds work effectively together – and where we can be our authentic selves at work and be confident to develop our potential. Our women’s network, Accelerate>>>, cultural and faith-based groups, and our Arcus network for LGBT+ colleagues and allies, together with thriving local and global groups, help encourage an inclusive, integrated culture in our firm.
Our lawyers, partners and business leaders are from a huge range of backgrounds and they are able to succeed equally regardless of gender, race, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability or any other factors. We recognise that expanding our variety of viewpoints is essential if we are to continue generating the brightest ideas and innovations – and because we are committed to widening access to the legal profession. We attract candidates from the broadest range of backgrounds, and encourage them to build careers here.
And across the firm, at every level, we encourage open, honest conversations about how we can realise our ambitions and continue to make Clifford Chance a great place to work. By working together to build a workplace that respects and includes everyone, we will enable one another to deliver our best – for ourselves, and for our clients.
At Clifford Chance, we believe that inclusion is a core value of the law and, specifically, of our firm's values. We understand that inclusion is good for our staff and their families, our firm and our clients, and society. Our goal is to deliver an equality of opportunity, an equality of aspiration, and an equality of experience to everyone who works in our firm.
We recognise that a true diversity of talent and experience is an essential ingredient in our success.
As a leader in our field, we are rightly held to high standards in all we do. We are committed to inspiring the trust of our stakeholders by making Responsible Business a central part of our strategy.
We believe that our licence to operate, the sustainability of our business, and the achievement of our vision, are dependent on our ability to inspire trust and earn the confidence of all our stakeholders – our clients, our people, and civil society. To do this, we must act responsibly, creating long-term value and supporting those individuals' and groups' future success.
There’s also an important point here about individual development. Those of our people who are involved in this type of activity – whether it’s pro bono advice, mentoring local students, or working alongside clients on an environmental initiative – all have a much broader, more considered view of business life, and develop a wider range of really valuable life and business skills.
Feeling that you can have a positive impact on some of the more pressing issues facing society is also hugely motivating. That’s an important aspect of ensuring that everyone here feels that Clifford Chance is a really great place to work.
We recently celebrated our annual Arcus Pride Art exhibitions in Amsterdam, Düsseldorf, Hong Kong, London, Milan, New York, Perth, Singapore, Sydney, Tokyo and Washington D.C. The annual Arcus Pride Art exhibitions have become one of the largest corporate supported exhibitions of art works by lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender (LGBT+), and supporter artists.
Arcus Pride Art 2019 coincided with World Pride in New York, the largest celebration of Pride in the world. In Asia Pacific, Arcus Pride Art kicked off in Hong Kong, followed by Tokyo, Perth and Sydney. In Perth, the event was particularly celebratory, as Clifford Chance has recently been a proud recipient of the Australian Workplace Equality Index (AWEI) Silver Status for LGBTI Workplace Inclusion.
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Our Seoul office recently volunteered its time to benefit the Eastern Social Welfare Society (ESWS). The team created hand-sewn baby bibs and handkerchiefs to be donated to single mothers and their children.
The Eastern Social Welfare Society (ESWS) was founded in 1971, and operates social welfare services for children, single parents, disabled people, and the elderly.
To coincide with the firm's sponsorship of art exhibition 'KAWS: Along The Way', we hosted an art workshop with clietns from the Centre for Refugees.
Five volunteers from Clifford Chance and 14 refugees – a range of adults and kids – spent a Saturday morning together enjoying and making art. Participants were given canvases, stencils and other materials including spray paint, to create their own KAWS-inspired art in the courtyard of PMQ, Hong Kong.
On International Women's Day (IWD), we acknowledge women's achievement, raise awareness against bias, and take action for equality.
#BalanceForBetter was the theme for IWD 2019, and this has been an area of focus at Clifford Chance for many years. In 2010, the firm became one of the first international law firms to establish a target to improve gender balance in the partnership, aiming for at least 30% female partners. We celebrated IWD with a host of events across the region, ranging from an insightful discussion with female refugees in Hong Kong, to a client lunch in Sydney, and events throughout the week in Perth, including hosting a table at the UN Women's annual breakfast, and a gender equity cocktail party.
