Ensure equal opportunity and reduce inequalities of outcome, including by eliminating discriminatory laws, policies and practices and promoting appropriate legislation, policies and action in this regard

For the International Center for Advocates Against Discrimination (ICAAD), forty of our lawyers from ten offices (including Amsterdam, Brussels, Frankfurt, London, Luxembourg, Madrid, Milan, New York, Paris and Warsaw) reviewed reports from UN agencies, NGOs, governments and other sources to analyse legislation and policies giving rise to structural discrimination issues. This information is being used to further ICAAD’s work and partnerships globally.

Our access to justice work, a key component to our pro bono practice, has a particular focus on assisting populations who are affected by other barriers to inclusion, including disability discrimination, racial discrimination, gender discrimination and discrimination on the grounds of sexual orientation and gender identity.

We are a founding member of Open for Business, a coalition of leading global businesses making the business and economic case for LGBT+ inclusion. Through this coalition and others around the globe, we are proud to have contributed to action such as presenting at the Vatican a research report on LGBT+ human rights abuses, committing to pursue strategic litigation in the US to address discriminatory actions against the LGBT+ community, applying to intervene in a crucial LGBT+ rights case in Hong Kong, and drafting a report on the constitutionality of marriage equality in Japan.

Being a leader in diversity and inclusion is an integral part of our firm’s vision and strategy. As a responsible business, it is important to us that we represent the diversity of our people, our clients and our communities, and that we create an inclusive culture in which everyone - regardless of background, identity and circumstance - can reach their full potential. To help us focus and measure our efforts, we have prioritised six strands of diversity globally – gender, race & ethnicity, LGBT+, social mobility, age & life stage and diversability. We develop strategic plans and take concrete action to reduce inequalities. For example, through our Race Action Plan, we affirm our commitment to anti-racism and strive to use our position as a global firm to lead change. Through our Making Links Discovery Programme, Schools Challenge and Scholars Programme, and our innovative virtual internship experience, we are levelling the playing field and advancing social mobility and racial and ethnic diversity within the legal sector.

Linklaters has been named as one of The Valuable 500’s top companies who have committed to putting disability inclusion on their board agendas. The initiative aims to signal a huge step forward in achieving better inclusion for the 1.3 billion disabled people worldwide as employees, customers, suppliers and members of the community.

Linklaters is proud to be a founding strategic partner of Inclusion Labs’ Decade of Diversity initiative, aiming to advance diversity and inclusion within schools in the United Kingdom. The new initiative, launched by Inclusion Labs, a purpose driven non-profit company, calls on schools, organisations and individuals to commit to leveraging their collective power to embed diversity, equity and inclusion into every young person’s educational, cultural and personal development.