Foot Anstey sets new standard with parental leave policy
updated on 02 July 2025
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National law firm Foot Anstey LLP has expanded it parental leave policy to include six months full parental leave to employees of all genders – “a vital step towards achieving greater equality in caregiving responsibilities”.
The policy is part of the firm’s wider ‘family forming’ programme, which offers enhanced neonatal support and pay, and reproductive healthcare through fertility clinic Fertifa. Employees can also access to long-term parental support through Bright Horizons, an education and care services business, which provides a ‘Parental Returners Hub’ and a ‘Back-up’ care initiative.
On top of this, the firm has unveiled a new mortgage support benefit to provide staff with one-to-one access to independent mortgage advisers. These initiatives form part of Foot Anstey’s pledge to commit at least 1% of net profit to responsible business causes. For example, earlier this year, the firm partnered with charity Young Enterprise to help equip young people with essential workplace skills.
Group management accountant at Foot Anstey, Richard Turner, is set to be one of the first to benefit from the updated equal family support package. He said: “I’m incredibly grateful for the opportunity to take six months of enhanced paternity leave. It means the world to have this precious time to bond with our new baby, support my partner and be fully present for these first moments as a family."
Head of reward and people delivery, Kerri O’Driscoll, commented: “Giving our people time and financial security to support their families through early development stages is a vital step towards achieving greater equality in caregiving responsibilities. We know that supporting our people through different life stages allows them to achieve their full potential.”
Meanwhile, partner and chief people officer at Foot Anstey, Felix Hebblethwaite, said: “Offering all our people six months of fully paid parental leave reflects our steadfast belief that hard work should be matched by industry leading benefits. Today’s announcement is just one development in the firm’s long history of backing our people. 2025 has been an exciting year for the firm’s growth, which has gone hand in hand with levelling up the support we provide for our workforce.”
