Diversity and inclusion

In 2020, we created five regional D&I Advisory Groups (Asia Pacific, Europe, Middle East and Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean, North America, and the United Kingdom) where members are empowered to share their ideas and advise on areas of priority, as well as turn intention into tangible action. We also created a global D&I Advisory Group which comprises members from each regional group and meets on a quarterly basis. The global D&I Advisory Group is chaired by our Managing Partner, Suzanne Liversidge, who ensures the board remains informed, accountable and fully committed to our diversity and inclusion agenda.

Meet some of our D&I champions around the world below.

We have developed programmes and initiatives to foster an inclusive work environment, encourage open discussion and raise awareness on diversity issues.

Let's start the conversation

In June 2020 we launched our Let’s start the conversation series, a global initiative to raise awareness and educate on a broad range of topics (such as Asperger syndrome, Black Lives Matter, LBGTQ+ inclusion). Guest speakers discuss and share their experiences while encouraging an open and safe space for individuals to ask questions.

Widening access to the legal profession

We work with external organisations and continue to develop a range of opportunities to widen access to the profession, allowing for individuals from a variety of backgrounds to pursue a legal career at Kennedys. For example:

• We were the first law firm in the UK to set up an apprentice scheme. So far we have recruited over 70 legal apprentices across our UK offices and currently have 55 UK apprentices.
• Kennedys launched its first virtual work experience programme in 2020. To date many thousands of individuals from all over the world have accessed our online work experience programme.
• In 2020 we created a scholarship programme in the US in partnership with St. John’s University to boost diversity in the insurance industry.
• We started using the RARE recruitment tool in our UK trainee application screening process to ensure socially mobile candidates do not get overlooked.
• We partnered with the Careers & Enterprise Company and UpReach in the UK to inspire young people from disadvantaged backgrounds to work in the legal sector.

For more information about our apprentice scheme, virtual work experience or the different routes into Kennedys please visit our early careers page.

Dive In Festival

We continue to be a global partner of the Dive In Festival – a global movement in the insurance sector to support the development of inclusive workplace cultures. Its mission is to enable people to achieve their potential by raising awareness of the business case and promoting positive action for diversity in all its forms.

Other activities

We conduct focus groups, interviews and surveys across all our offices globally to ensure we understand our people’s experiences and the barriers they face. To learn more about what we are doing to advance D&I at Kennedys, please download our Sustainability Report from our corporate social responsibility webpage.