Multiculturalism

Our people come from diverse backgrounds, faiths and cultures. We celebrate this rich, multicultural diversity, making Ashurst a place where everyone can feel a genuine sense of acceptance and belonging.

Our Inclusion Targets: Driving Change

With 31 offices across the world, we naturally benefit from rich cultural diversity in our people and in the clients we serve. It’s important to us that we reflect the cultural diversity of the communities in which we operate.

We take a strategic approach to progress and hold ourselves accountable to deliver on our ambitious IDB commitments.

We’ve set ourselves UK targets to increase ethnically diverse representation, which keep us focused on creating real progress in our business.

Additionally we measure ourselves specifically around Black representation, due to underrepresentation of Black individuals in UK professional services, and, since 2021, have voluntarily undertaken Ethnicity Pay Gap Reporting in the UK. These measures focus us on opportunities to increase representation in Early Careers, legal and business services staff, partners and leaders. 

We aspire to set ourselves similar targets in other regions, and continue to encourage wider diversity data disclosure with our people so we can better understand their needs and our opportunities to increase representation, opportunity and inclusion in our firm.

Global Networks, Local Impact

Under the Multiculturalism IDB Strand we enjoy the support of a number of employee networks and affinity groups, creating space for communities to come together in shared faiths, races or ethnicities, responding to the communities present in each of our jurisdictions.

Networks including our All at Ashurst group, Ashurst Muslim Network, and Ashurst Black Network play important roles in supporting our people and influencing business change.

In Australia, our First Nations strategy is delivered by our Social Impact team. Read more about that work.  

Through our networks we challenge ourselves to educate and raise awareness, to diversify our recruitment processes, and continually improve the provision of safe and supportive spaces for our people to share stories and experiences.

Anti-Racism

With our networks' support we have established a global Anti-Racism Hub, an educational space, featuring a range of recommendations from Ashurst colleagues to help our people better understand both the historical and present impacts of racism.

We also offer multiculturalism awareness sessions to our people and our clients, and recognise and celebrate multicultural days of significance, to bring the benefits of our rich cultural diversity to life.

At Ashurst, Inclusion, Diversity, and Belonging Are At The Heart Of Everything We Do

By celebrating key events and observances, sponsoring employee networks, shaping policies and activities, building learning and understanding, and offering tools, benefits and services to our people and our clients, we aspire to bring Inclusion, Diversity and Belonging to life and foster an environment that is welcoming, inclusive, and respectful of all backgrounds and perspectives.

As a client or professional considering working with us, we invite you to learn more about how we value and celebrate diversity, foster inclusion, and cultivate a sense of belonging for all.

We know that by doing so, we not only provide exceptional legal services leveraging true diversity of thought and best practice in the IDB space, but also make a positive impact on the world around us.