Diversity, Equity and Inclusion

ED&I Strategy Group

Our ED&I Strategy Group helps to shape and execute the firm’s ED&I Strategy.  The group itself is diverse, encompassing different backgrounds, experiences, and viewpoints on ED&I from across varying departments and roles, with responsibility for ensuring that key diversity and inclusion targets are met, and that the strategy and initiatives support and enhance our wider firm strategy.

If you would like any further information on the EDI Strategy Group, please email [email protected].

Co-chair statement – Lorna du Sautoy & Rob Chidley

We are proud to be the co-chairs of BDB Pitmans’ ED&I Strategy Group, and strongly believe that continuing to enhance, broaden, and embed a comprehensive strategy is a key requirement for the firm as it progresses on its journey. The group itself is diverse, encompassing different backgrounds, experiences, and viewpoints on ED&I,  which we believe make us a strong team. Our focus is to embed strong policies and drive engagement from all members of the firm, whether it be through active allyship or simply a desire to learn more. Without detracting from the importance of the policies themselves, we want to ensure that all members of the firm can clearly, passionately, and proudly tell others about them, promoting a progressive firm and a great place to work. Most importantly, though, we believe investing in ED&I is the right thing to do.

We want to ensure that employees feel valued and are working in an open and non-judgmental environment where they can bring their whole self to work. Endeavouring to create a diverse workplace allows for innovation and a broadening of people’s understanding and awareness. Enabling representation at all levels and access to a diverse pool of prospective employees will not only promote an open firm, but also drive a culture of acceptance and togetherness.

We also know that ED&I and ESG are increasingly considered just as important as legal expertise and pricing when it comes to winning new clients and business and attracting and retaining employees. Law firms are multi-generational environments that require efficient communication to ensure quality client service. Encouraging open dialogue between all employees of the firm, recognising the impact of unconscious bias, and respectfully listening to the opinions of others will improve communication and the quality of our offering for our clients.

Our current Strategy Group

Equity, Diversity & Inclusion Group
E-mail: [email protected]

• Aranya Tharumakunarajah – Associate (planning, infrastructure, and public law)
• Aaron Nelson – Legal Director (planning, infrastructure, and public law)
• Preena Patel – Solicitor (charities)
• Caroline Yarrow – Partner (employment and immigration)
• Farah Desai – Solicitor

The firm currently has six Business Impact Groups. Each of the groups has a core committee helping to develop and deliver their strategic plans as well as run an ongoing calendar of education and networking events. All of our groups are open to those who not only identify as part of that group, but also to those who are active allies. You can find out more about each of our groups here.

Best Self

Best Self, our internal LGBTQ+ group, is for anyone at the firm who is lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, queer, and questioning as well as other sexual and gender identities (such as non-binary, intersex, and pansexual). We want to make people feel fully included in life at the firm and we offer the chance to network with Best Self as well as other groups in the firm, attend events with other firms, and get to know other LGBTQ+ people in the legal sector. We feed into the firm’s ED&I Strategy Group and have drafted a ‘Transition and Change to Gender Expression Policy’. Allies to (and from) the LGBTQ+ communities are also welcome to join the group to support the work we do.

SHINE

SHINE is our multicultural network group. Any member of staff who identifies as being of a racial, ethnic, or cultural minority is welcome to join, as well as those who may not be but who share the group’s ethos. We aim to support employees at BDB Pitmans in being their authentic selves, to champion the achievements of our employees from all backgrounds and heritages and to show that BDB Pitmans is a truly inclusive firm that is passionate about attracting and retaining a diverse range employees.

Mind & Body

Mind & Body is the firm’s health, wellbeing, and disability group. The group’s main aims are to raise awareness and initiate open conversations about disability and health conditions – both mental and physical – to create a more inclusive firm for everyone. The group works with HR to ensure policies are up to date and reflect the needs of staff (prospective as well as existing), including adjustments for people with disabilities.

Faith in Focus

The group exists to raise awareness, initiate open conversations about faith and support colleagues to be their authentic selves at work. They work with HR to ensure that firm policies best reflect the needs of staff to create a culture where colleagues of all faiths and none can flourish. It also exists to enable colleagues to understand their clients’ personal and organisational needs better.

Breaking Even

Breaking Even is our gender equity network. The group’s core aims are to educate members and employees at the firm on what gender equity is and promote how the firm can implement measures to support gender equity; to provide an opportunity for members to share and discuss gender-based issues and experiences; to hold events and support the firm in running initiatives to support gender equity; to be a group for absolutely everyone (gender equity will only be possible with the cooperation of everyone, irrespective of your gender or how you identify); and to use the group as a mechanism to empower individuals and support their development and progression at the firm.

Balance

Our Balance group supports the firm’s working parents and carers. As with all our Business Impact Groups, Balance is not only for those who are working parents and carers, but for anyone at the firm who is an ally, or simply wants to better understand the experiences of parents and carers in the workplace. As well as holding events, webinars, and other education opportunities for staff, the group also works closely with HR to discuss issues that impact employees with caring responsibilities/flexible workers/part-time employees, and what improvements can be made to improve life-work balance.

We have trained Mental Health First Aiders across all four of our offices who serve as a point of contact for our Partners and employees who can give initial support and signpost to appropriate help if required.

In addition, all staff have free access to Thrive;  a clinically effective mental wellbeing app, providing 24 / 7 support for mental health and wellbeing as well as the firm’s Employee Assistance programme offering confidential advice, information and personal support.

We are part of the 10,000 Interns Foundation,,  which aims to transform the horizons and prospects of black students and graduate as well as young people with disabilities in the UK by offering paid work experience, world-class training, and development.

Since 2022, BDB Pitmans have hosted a number of interns within both our fee-earning teams, as well as within our business services teams, for a period of six weeks, with some interns successfully securing a permanent role at the firm

We are proud to be founding Corporate Members of the 10,000 Interns Foundation, demonstrating our commitment to championing underrepresented talent in the legal sector.

We were awarded Highly Commended at the People in Law Awards 2023 for our involvement in the Collab Network; a collective of law firms who hosted a series of development and networking opportunities for our interns.

We are proud to be members of the PRIME Commitment, an alliance of law firms working to improve access to, and socio-economic diversity within, the legal profession by providing work experience for aspiring solicitors in Years 12 and 13.

As active members of the City Century collective of law firms, we strongly support the increased opportunities into the legal profession for a wider pool of exceptional talent, as championed by the apprenticeship route. A signatory of the Legal Apprenticeships Pledge since 2023, we value all routes to qualification equally.

We are proud to be a founding member of LeGal BesT, a network of mid-size law firms with a focus on issues and support for their lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans (LGBT) staff. While discussions and events are based on areas mostly affecting LGBT employees, the group is open to anyone with an interest in supporting their LGBT colleagues and diversity in general.

In September 2021, BDB Pitmans was proud to adopt The Halo Code, the UK’s first black hair code. We champion the right of staff to embrace all Afro-hairstyles. We acknowledge that Afro-textured hair is an important part of our Black employees’ racial, ethnic, cultural, and religious identities, and requires specific styling for hair health and maintenance. We celebrate Afro-textured hair worn in all styles including, but not limited to, afros, locs, twists, braids, cornrows, fades, hair straightened through the application of heat or chemicals, weaves, wigs, headscarves, and wraps. In this workplace, we recognise and celebrate our colleagues’ identities. We are a community built on an ethos of equality and respect where hair texture and style have no bearing on an employee’s ability to succeed.

Our adoption of The Halo Code forms part of both our Equity, Diversity & Inclusion Policy, and our Dress for Your Day Policy.

Includability provides a platform for employers with a commitment to treating people fairly, and its goal is to offer job seekers a fully accessible and equitable application process. Through engagement, collaboration and building a community of like-minded people, aims to inspire, break down barriers and make a difference.

In November 2021, BDB Pitmans was proud to become an Includability Committed Employer.

BDB Pitmans is proud to partner with Grace & Green, an independent, female-founded and -led company specialising in sustainable and ethical period care, to provide free period products in all BDB Pitmans office bathrooms. We do this for three key reasons: to support inclusivity; to increase wellbeing; and to help deliver on our CSR commitments.

Through our partnership with Uptree we work with local schools in order to inspire, attract and hire a workforce that is representative of the communities in which we operate, seeking talent from diverse and underrepresented backgrounds for legal career opportunities. Through this, we offer a number of  work experience placements annually for students interested in a career in the legal sector, as well as Insight Days and an Application Masterclass.

We are proud to have been recognised as a Disability Confident Committed Employer, demonstrating our commitment to creating an inclusive and supportive workplace for those with disabilities, and supporting development and career opportunities for disabled people.

We launched our Menopause Policy in the recognition that women, and all colleagues going through menopause transition, may need additional consideration, support and adjustments before, during and after the menopause.

In 2022, we became signatories of the Wellbeing of Women Menopause Workplace Pledge to demonstrate our support and commitment to those experiencing menopause and its symptoms.