Eversheds and HFW disclose gender pay gaps for partners but calls mount for an end to cherry-picked stats

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Eversheds and HFW disclose gender pay gaps for partners but calls mount for an end to cherry-picked stats

The one-upmanship and tactical disclosures from law firms are gradually revealing more about entrenched gender pay gaps. Next up, Eversheds Sutherland has reported that its female equity partners are paid 10% more on average, while top 50 UK firm HFW has provided breakdowns for its entire workforce.

Eversheds’ report, published today (28 March), reveals its statutory pay gap for employees is 23% on average, rising to 25% on a median basis. The bonus difference is 43% on average, dropping to 31% median. Continue reading “Eversheds and HFW disclose gender pay gaps for partners but calls mount for an end to cherry-picked stats”

‘It’s a promotion problem’: what the gender pay gap figures tell us so far

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‘It’s a promotion problem’: what the gender pay gap figures tell us so far

Marco Cillario rounds up the latest stats as the April deadline looms

And so it begins. The first gender pay gap reporting season has kicked off and for many Legal Business 100 law firms (and indeed all British companies with 250+ people) there is an early April deadline to disclose how much they are paying their UK-based female employees compared to men. Continue reading “‘It’s a promotion problem’: what the gender pay gap figures tell us so far”

Collective shame as City law falls firmly under #MeToo spotlight

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Collective shame as City law falls firmly under #MeToo spotlight

Thomas Alan finds profession facing tough questions over record on sexual harassment

From the Presidents Club charity dinner to the news in March that the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) will challenge the misuse of non-disclosure agreements (NDAs), the legal profession has been jolted by allegations of misconduct and sexual harassment since the start of the year. Continue reading “Collective shame as City law falls firmly under #MeToo spotlight”

‘It’s about doing the right thing’ – Clifford Chance goes extra mile to reveal stark 66% gender pay gap

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‘It’s about doing the right thing’ – Clifford Chance goes extra mile to reveal stark 66% gender pay gap

In an attempt to kick-start a more transparent reporting process, Clifford Chance (CC) has opted to include the total earnings of its London partnership in its gender pay gap figures, revealing a 66% disparity.

The Magic Circle firm argues that while the likes of Norton Rose Fulbright (NRF) and Pinsent Masons have included partners in their overall pay gap, their decisions to break partner earnings down by salary and bonus means the overall picture is obscured. For the avoidance of doubt, CC has asserted its figures would be lower than both NRF and Pinsents if it reported them in the same way. Continue reading “‘It’s about doing the right thing’ – Clifford Chance goes extra mile to reveal stark 66% gender pay gap”

Pinsents calls for level playing field and more transparency as it reveals partners gender pay gap

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Pinsents calls for level playing field and more transparency as it reveals partners gender pay gap

Pinsent Masons has disclosed the earnings gap that hands male partners 22% more than female colleagues on average as it calls for changes to the gender pay reporting regime ahead of next year.

The top 25 UK law firm has taken the unusual step of disclosing its gender pay gap figures with reference to its partnership numbers. The partnership numbers reveal it pays male partners more than a fifth more on average, and 38% more on a median basis. Its bonus pay gap, however, sees female partners receive 11% more on average while the bonus pay gap is 0% on a median basis. Continue reading “Pinsents calls for level playing field and more transparency as it reveals partners gender pay gap”

Freshfields trounces rivals as Global 100 firms release gender pay stats

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Freshfields trounces rivals as Global 100 firms release gender pay stats

Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer has become the penultimate Magic Circle firm to publish statistics on the disparity between male and female employee earnings, performing well ahead of its peers to date.

The firm today (22 March) revealed it pays male staff on average 13.9% more than female fee-earners, a gap which closes to 13.3% when the median figure is taken into account. Continue reading “Freshfields trounces rivals as Global 100 firms release gender pay stats”

Upping the ante: City Law feels pressure on transparency as Big Four includes partners in gender pay stats

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Upping the ante: City Law feels pressure on transparency as Big Four includes partners in gender pay stats

The Big Four accountancy firms have set a precedent for their legal counterparts by disclosing updated gender pay gap figures that include equity partners.

The result is a substantial increase in the pay gap between men and women, adding pressure on law  firms to follow suit and reveal the disparity in remuneration  at the top. Continue reading “Upping the ante: City Law feels pressure on transparency as Big Four includes partners in gender pay stats”

Progress but still work to do on Bunhill Row as Slaughter and May discloses gender pay disparity

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Slaughter and May has become the latest magic circle firm to reveal a difference in pay between its male and female fee-earners, placing it ahead of Linklaters but behind Allen & Overy for overall gender disparity on pay.

The firm today (14 March) published its statutory disclosures. The numbers reveal Slaughter and May pays male employees almost 55% more in bonuses compared to women. Men also earned 14% more than women on average, with the gap widening to 38.5% when the figures were considered on a median basis. Continue reading “Progress but still work to do on Bunhill Row as Slaughter and May discloses gender pay disparity”

Gender disparity underlined as Law Society reveals stark gap in perceptions over equality

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Gender disparity underlined as Law Society reveals stark gap in perceptions over equality

It appears the recent wave of awareness over the treatment of women in all industries has done little to dispel ingrained beliefs in law. A survey of nearly 8,000 – mostly female – lawyers conducted by the Law Society has found that three quarters (74%) of male lawyers perceive there has been progress on gender equality within the legal profession, while less than half (48%) of their female counterparts agree.

Coinciding with International Women’s Day the survey, released today (8 March), sheds light on the perceived progress of gender equality in the legal profession, with unconscious bias cited as the most prevalent obstacle to women reaching senior positions. Continue reading “Gender disparity underlined as Law Society reveals stark gap in perceptions over equality”

Women deal stars perspectives – Amy Mahon, Clifford Chance

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Women deal stars perspectives – Amy Mahon, Clifford Chance

‘Star culture dictates that 50-year-old men are seen as the real deal.

To be a good deal-doer it’s not only about negotiating. You need to be organised and have a masterplan to get things done. Women will say they’re good at project management, men will say they’re good negotiators. Juggling, multi-tasking, managing teams – none of these necessarily come easier to men than women. Continue reading “Women deal stars perspectives – Amy Mahon, Clifford Chance”