Linklaters supports ‘The 1% Study’ addressing Black representation at partner level in UK law firms

Linklaters has collaborated with DLA Piper, Herbert Smith Freehills, Hogan Lovells and Latham & Watkins to support ‘The 1% Study’ from extense, addressing the underrepresentation of Black solicitors at partnership level in UK law firms.

extense conducted a 21-month-long study, interviewing Black partners at law firms across the UK to discover the key contributing factors that assisted them in reaching partnership level. Endorsed by the Law Society of England & Wales and the Black Solicitors Network, ‘The 1% Study’ Report helps to identify actions that UK law firms can take to better retain and progress Black talent to senior levels. The full report will be made available here.

Nik Kiri, Global Diversity and Inclusion Partner at Linklaters, commented:

“It’s great to see law firms collaborating to support this study and collectively taking action to address the underrepresentation of Black solicitors at partnership level across the UK legal sector.

‘The 1% Study’ aligns with our work – set out in our Race Action Plan – to strengthen Black representation within our partnership and at all levels of our firm.”

In 2020, Linklaters publicly declared its commitment to become an anti-racist firm and pledged to improve the representation of Black and underrepresented minority ethnic lawyers and Business Team members across the firm. Linklaters’ Race Action Plan set out the concrete steps the firm would take to accomplish this. Find out more here.

Alison Saunders, partner and member of Linklaters’ Race Action Plan Steering Committee, will be taking part in the report launch discussion. To join the virtual panel event on Thursday, 20 October, 12:00-13:00 BST, click here.