Shoosmiths is top of diversity league table again

For the second year running, Shoosmiths has grabbed the top spot in the Black Solicitors Network's (BSN) annual diversity league table. The BSN analyses the number of female and ethnic minority partners, associates, trainees and paralegals at 30 top 100 firms, 13 international practices and seven City firms.

Each firm is given a quotient score, which is split 50:50 between (i) demographic league tables created for gender and ethnic diversity at partner, associate and trainee level, and (ii) responses to questions on five areas of diversity policy and practice. Commenting on the firm's winning quotient score of 896 out of 1,000, Shoosmiths chief executive Claire Rowe said: "It's easy for organisations across all sorts of sectors to talk about diversity, but quite another matter to actually do something about it. Topping the BSN table again is proof that Shoosmiths embraces diversity, and has it as an integral and important part of its working culture."

Other stand-out firms include Winckworth Sherwood, which was ranked number one for female partners, with 42.5%. Matthew Arnold & Baldwin, Pannone and Trowers & Hamlins also did relatively well in terms of female partners, with (respectively) 39%, 35% and 35%.

In terms of trainee diversity, The Lawyer reports that the proportion of trainees from ethnic minority backgrounds ranges in the top five firms from 33% at Russell-Cooke to 24% at Latham & Watkins. In terms of gender, the firms with the highest proportion of female trainees are Matthew Arnold & Baldwin with 85%, Sidley Austin with 78%, Russell-Cooke with 75%, and Irwin Mitchell and Charles Russell with 74% each.