Pinsent Masons again leads Stonewall legal employer rankings

International law firm Pinsent Masons has been placed second in both the Scottish and UK rankings in Stonewall's Top 100 Employers list for 2017, rating the best employers for lesbian, gay, bi and trans staff.

Topping the table in both categories is Lloyds Banking Group, but four other legal firms appear in the UK top 10: Clifford Chance at 4, Baker McKenzie at 7, Berwin Leighton Paisner at 8 and Norton Rose Fulbright at 10.

Placed fourth in the Scottish rankings, and 13th overall, is the Crown Office & Procurator Fiscal Service.

The index recognises the pioneering efforts of leading organisations for their commitment to workplace diversity. Others featured in the UK top 100 include Police Scotland at 20, law firms CMS at 31 and DWF at 36, the Scottish Government at 50 (the Welsh Government is placed at 25), and law firm Eversheds at 69.

A total of 439 organisations sought to be included in the index.

Kate Fergusson, head of responsible business and chair of Pinsent Masons' Allies network commented: "In the last 12 months, we have increased our focus on gender identity, introducing gender identity monitoring and reporting, publishing new guidelines on transitioning at work and providing training and awareness raising sessions for our people.”

She added: “We have also continued to support Stonewall’s education programme, linking this with our own award-winning school partnership programme. This has involved some of our LGBT Network members being trained as role models and delivering speaker sessions in schools to help eradicate bullying and to promote tolerance and a culture where all children are free to be themselves."

Duncan Bradshaw, Stonewall's director of membership programmes, said that all those who had made the top 100 "have done a fantastic job, and really do put equality and inclusion at the forefront of their work". He added: "I would like to thank each and every organisation that took part. With your continued efforts and hard work, we will continue to work toward a world where all lesbian, gay, bi and trans staff are welcomed and accepted without exception in their workplaces.”