½Û×ÓÊÓƵ

At ½Û×ÓÊÓƵ, we are committed to inclusion and equality, and we stand in solidarity with Black communities. On the 19th June 2020, Mike Walsh, CEO, published the statement below, in relation to Black Lives Matter and equality in today's society. 

½Û×ÓÊÓƵ Legal & Professional condemns racism and discrimination

By , CEO – June 19, 2020

As the world grieves the brutal murders of George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery, Sean Reed, Breonna Taylor, Rayshard Brooks and too many more, ½Û×ÓÊÓƵ stands firmly against racism and discrimination. Confronted with the stark reality of systemic racism in society, we need to reexamine our role in advancing the rule of law and how our 10,600 colleagues can make an active and positive contribution to accelerate equality for all under the law, inclusion and diversity within our business and in the communities we serve—because Black Lives Matter.

½Û×ÓÊÓƵ recognizes that systems of inequality built over time can mask bias, even in the legal community that is a force for good. We are committed to rooting out systemic racism in its many forms. We have had an outpouring of ideas from our colleagues around the world for how we can build meaningful and impactful action plans to support our Black employees and communities.

We are focusing on three areas, guided by  to advance the rule of law and our overall :  

1. Ensure a culture and practice of inclusion and diversity at ½Û×ÓÊÓƵ. We believe that diverse teams are essential for innovation, reducing group think and enhancing critical thinking and decision-making. We must, therefore, hold ourselves accountable to cultivate an inclusive and diverse workforce, ensuring equality and opportunity for career progression in the workplace. And we must ensure there are ample opportunities for Black professionals to succeed at all levels at ½Û×ÓÊÓƵ, especially in leadership positions.
2. Eliminate systemic racism in our legal systems. ½Û×ÓÊÓƵ has long been committed to advancing the rule of law around the world. We must do more to eradicate racism where it exists and ensure equality for all under the law, transparency of law, independent judiciaries, and accessible legal remedy. We must work with the  and our community of customers, leading legal organizations, NGOs and other partners to raise awareness of inequities and hidden biases. We will work with our network to influence and address inequality in our communities.
3. Be an advocate for Black lives. We publicly condemn racism and recognize its deteriorating effects on our society. We will fight against systemic racism, and we will use our influence and resources to partner with organizations dedicated to this cause. ½Û×ÓÊÓƵ’ highly active Employee Resource Groups, including the African Ancestry Network, along with our Diversity & Inclusion program and the  are instrumental in converting the passion and good intention of our people into pragmatic action.

½Û×ÓÊÓƵ people around the globe express their solidarity toward eliminating racism. They have submitted hundreds of ideas, large and small, on how we can help address racial injustice. The proof of our commitment will be in the actions we proudly push forward to fight systemic racism. We believe we can make lasting and positive change in the fight against injustice for our employees, for our customers, and while strengthening the rule of law. 

½Û×ÓÊÓƵ supports the rule of law

In addition to this statement, the ½Û×ÓÊÓƵ Rule of Law Foundation published this statement on the 9th June 2020: .

As a business overall, ½Û×ÓÊÓƵ are committed to building a global culture of inclusion, fairness and mutual respect every day. Our contribution to this is through our work to advance the rule of law through the  â€“ the foundation for the development of peaceful, equitable and prosperous societies. This supports the notion that we are all equal before the law. 

The four elements of the Rule of Law advanced by the Foundation are:

• Equality under the law,
• Access to the law,
• Independent (and consequently unbiased) judiciary, and
• Access to legal remedy

Click here to read more content on the rule of law and the ½Û×ÓÊÓƵ Rule of Law Foundation: ½Û×ÓÊÓƵ, the rule of law and diversity