Nine law firms including Allen & Overy, Dentons and Hogan Lovells were among the law firms in Stonewall’s Top Global Employers list for 2020, which recognises firms for their efforts to advance LGBT+ inclusion in the workplace.

Baker McKenzie, Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner, Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer, Herbert Smith Freehills, Pinsent Masons and Simmons & Simmons were the other firms commended by Stonewall. Law firms made up more than half of the list, which included BP, HSBC and Vodafone.

Allen & Overy—which was named a Top Global Employer for the third year running—was also handed the Global LGBT Network award in recognition of the firm’s internal network programme that links LGBT staff across different Allen & Overy locations around the world.

Jim Ford, partner and chair of the A&Out Network, said: “The success of the network is down to the hard work of people internally and our approach of close collaboration between the global diversity team, senior leaders and in-country LGBT organisations. We are focused on making sure that we balance our global messages with local nuance, to encourage as much engagement with the network as possible.”

Dentons’ partner, Igor Ostrowski, was handed Stonewall’s Global Senior Champion award for his efforts supporting legal action against Polish newspaper Gazeta Polska, which had distributed ’LGBT+free Zone’ stickers in cities across the country. 

Nick Mott, chair of Dentons Global LGBT+ Network, said: “Given ongoing attacks on LGBT+ rights in Poland, Igor's recognition, in particular, is so important at this critical time.”

Meanwhile, Baker McKenzie received the Global Trans Inclusion award for championing trans inclusion in its workplace.

Nancy Kelley, Stonewall’s chief executive, said: “The progress we’ve made towards LGBT equality has never felt more fragile, so it’s inspiring to see the work our Top Global Employers are doing to protect and support their LGBT staff in some extremely difficult contexts. We know that getting this right isn’t easy, but it is vital—especially because not all parts of the world are progressing at the same pace.”

She added: “Multinational companies have a powerful part to play in driving equality and progress in society. With their help, every lesbian, gay, bi and trans person can be accepted without exception, wherever they are in the world.”