The social media giant has set down specific demands for its outside counsel stating that women and ethnic minorities account for at least 33 per cent of law firm teams working on its matters. In addition, the company’s new policy just unveiled states that law firms must also show that they ‘actively identify and create clear and measurable leadership opportunities for women and minorities’ when they represent the company in litigation and other legal matters.

Irony

Ironically, Facebook is under fire for its own workplace diversity where African Americans and Hispanics last summer accounted for only 3 per cent each of senior leadership, and women made up an additional 27 per cent. However, since then of those newly recruited to senior leadership posts, nine per cent were black, five per cent were Hispanic and 29 per cent were women.

Growing trend

Facebook is the latest in a line of top corporates pushing for their law firms to become for diverse in terms of ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation and even disability. In February HP introduced stricter rules and it is understood that MetLife will be unveiling its new set of demands later in the month. Morgan Stanley annually names one of its outside law firms as the recipient of a leadership award in diversity and inclusion.