Our People
Future Firm Group: driving D&I strategy from the top
The Future Firm Group (FFG) was created in March 2022 to drive forward and mainstream our D&I strategy, building on many years of investment and effort. Its purpose is to ensure we are building a diverse workforce and talent pipeline that will sustain the Firm for the future.
“If you have an environment where people feel that they can be themselves, that's really important when you’re looking to attract talent, grow talent and retain talent.”
Charlotte Pender, Partner, Dispute Resolution and FFG member, Charles Russell Speechlys
The FFG is co-chaired by Managing Partner, Simon Ridpath and Senior Partner, Bart Peerless, supported by three Senior Operational Leads, our Directors of HR and Partner Performance, and our Responsible Business Partner. The Group brings together a mix of people from across the business, both fee-earning and non fee-earning, including our five D&I Leads for Gender Balance, Race Equality, Social Mobility, LGBTQ+ and CAPability and Mental Health, to ensure a range of views and perspectives can be brought to any issues before it.
“We established the FFG to help co-ordinate our D&I strategy, and because we recognise that it has never been more important to ensure that we are attracting, recruiting, developing and retaining a diverse workforce,” explains Bart. “A diverse workforce is key to finding the best possible solutions for our clients and for the sustainable development of our own business.”
“We know that real change will only take place if it is driven from the top and woven through all aspects of our business — our practices, policies, procurement and fully embedded into the governance of the Firm.”
Bart Peerless, Senior Partner and Co-Chair of the FFG, Charles Russell Speechlys
“We are keen to play a role not only in driving forward our own D&I strategy, but also to identify how we can collaborate with our clients, intermediaries and the legal sector more broadly to encourage and support a diverse and inclusive profession as part of the business landscape.
Simon Ridpath, Managing Partner and Co-Chair of the FFG, Charles Russell Speechlys
Diverse representation
Charlotte Pender, Partner and Head of Commercial Dispute Resolution, is a member of the FFG and when she was invited to participate in the group she didn’t hesitate to say yes.
“There are some areas of D&I where we're doing well compared to our competitors. We are also upfront about the fact that there are other areas where we've still got lots of work to do. I strongly believe that the FFG is the right way to get that work done,” says Charlotte. “To make further progress we need to ensure all of our D&I initiatives are part of a coordinated strategy, led from the top of the Firm, that is mainstreamed across the day-to-day work of the business.”
As well as being critical to the Firm’s talent and the future of the Firm, Charlotte says promoting a diverse and inclusive workplace also makes commercial sense. “Diversity in the workplace brings diversity of thought and that allows us to be better advisors to our clients; some of whom may be looking to us to help and support them with D&I.”
The FFG is still in its infancy, but it has already introduced some important measures, such as the addition of inclusive leadership training into the Charles Russell Speechlys Business School Curriculum and the creation of a new reverse mentoring initiative.
“Being a responsible business is more than just the policies and procedures you put in place. It's about respecting people, their needs and their perspectives. That creates a diverse and inclusive workplace where everyone can feel more comfortable about being themselves. The world has changed, we are all very different and you do not want to exclude anyone from your Firm — you want everyone to be able to have a place, a role and a voice.”
Julia Cox, Partner, Private Client and FFG member, Charles Russell Speechlys
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