CMS named Top Performing Law Firm for Diversity by key client Microsoft

CMS is proud to be a key advisor to Microsoft and to have been recognised as the Top Performer in the technology company’s second annual UK Law Firm Diversity Programme (“LFDP”) 2021. 

Microsoft’s LFDP recognises the accomplishments, progress and commitments of its law firm partners to create more diverse and inclusive organisations. Microsoft launched LFDP in the UK in 2020, building on the existing LFDP which began in 2008 in the US, with the goal of supporting Microsoft’s law firm partners to make progress in diversifying their workforce. 

Clive Gringras, Microsoft’s client relationship partner and Head of Technology, Media and Telecommunications at CMS, comments: “We are delighted to be the top performer in diversity against such great competitors. Massive credit goes to the superb and diverse lawyers at CMS who devote themselves to providing high quality advice – especially during this most challenging of times. And huge gratitude goes to Microsoft for bringing a data-driven approach to this Programme; it challenges us to be more deliberate in choosing the most diverse team possible.”

CMS is committed to creating rewarding futures for its people and nurturing a diverse and sustainable workforce for its clients. In recognising CMS’s efforts, Microsoft highlighted the firm’s critical achievements in delivering diverse representation and celebrated CMS as “a great example to other organisations and firms who are also aspiring to diversify.” Among its highlights, the number of hours that diverse employees spent on Microsoft matters during 2021 increased by 12%, reaching what Microsoft thought was an impressive 63.1%. The overall diversity of CMS’s Management Committee also saw an increase of 7.7%, to meet the target of 50% diverse. 

You can read more about LFDP here.

This recognition by Microsoft is the latest in a series of recent accolades celebrating CMS’s continued commitment to diversity and inclusion. The firm has been named a Top Employer for Women by The Times for the past six consecutive years, and last month achieved its highest ever ranking (climbing 28 spots to #13) in the Social Mobility Employer Index 2021. 

Over the coming year, CMS is putting in place a number of initiatives to increase the representation of ethnic minority talent across the firm. It has set itself a target of attracting 35% applications from ethnically diverse applicants by 2023, and to ensure progression of ethnic minority talent, the firm is also planning to launch a two-year pilot programme for ethnically diverse senior associates.