King & Wood Mallesons is continuing to champion gender diversity in the legal profession, announcing a gender diversity target for its Australian partnership.
By 2015, the firm will aim to achieve a partnership gender composition which is at least 30% female. It is currently 25% - one of the highest in a leading law firm.
The introduction of a gender diversity target at the partnership level reflects the firm’s strong commitment to its diversity objectives and its desire to create a more gender-representative talent pipeline. King & Wood Mallesons also acknowledges the increasing importance clients place on the gender diversity of their service providers, reflected in the ASX requirement for listed companies to set themselves voluntary targets and report progress.
Tony O’Malley, King & Wood Mallesons Managing Partner Australia, said that the firm recognises that gender diversity is a core business issue, and sees a partnership gender target as an appropriate step in response to changing market conditions and client needs.
“The introduction of a gender diversity target for our Australian partnership is a bold, innovative and important step, and one which reflects both the values and workplace culture to which we aspire. Diversity is critical to our business and a partnership which reflects this will enhance our capability to deliver stronger and more innovative solutions for our clients,” O’Malley said.
Caroline Coops, Managing Partner People & Talent said: “A gender diversity target is a key milestone in our broader diversity agenda. We will continue to challenge ourselves as a firm, and actively pursue initiatives which ensure we have a diverse and inclusive workplace, and the strongest possible talent pipeline to support the future growth and success of our business.”
The gender target is the latest in a series of initiatives which the firm is pursuing to promote diversity amongst partners and staff. These include: the implementation of a firm-wide diversity survey to gain feedback and inform strategy; the continued investment in dedicated diversity expertise to support the firm’s Diversity Council and Leadership Team; the roll out of a comprehensive unconscious bias awareness program; industry-leading benefits and resources to support working parents; and continuation of its award winning ‘Engaging Women’ program which provides career insights and learning from inspirational leaders in business and community organisations.
The firm’s commitment to advancing gender (and other) diversity has received positive endorsement from external stakeholders. For six consecutive years, King & Wood Mallesons has been named an ‘Employer of Choice for Women’ by the government agency responsible for gender equality in the workplace (EOWA). The firm is also a signatory to the United Nations ‘Women Empowerment Principles’, holding itself accountable for adopting the seven principles in the way it operates and conducts its business.
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