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News

Gender equality round-up: firms ban “Dear sirs” emails and launch breastmilk delivery scheme

updated on 28 September 2016

Two firms have stepped up their contributions to making law a more gender-equal profession, with Freshfields banning “Dear sirs” as a way to begin communications and Latham & Watkins launching a breastmilk delivery programme for its travelling lawyers.

Freshfields has insisted that its UK lawyers stop opening emails and letters with “Dear sirs” and instead use “Dear sir or madam”, as The Lawyer reports, while the magic circle firm’s US, European and Asian offices are following suit with similar greetings.

Meanwhile, Legal Cheek reports that Latham & Watkins has launched a programme which enables its lawyers to have their chilled breastmilk delivered to them anywhere in the world when they are away from home for work, with the move welcomed by partners at the firm with young children.