International firm Baker McKenzie wants a work force of 40% men and 40% women by July 2025. The remaining 20% will be 'flexible', consisting of men, women and non-binary people.

The target applies to partners, senior business professionals, the firm’s leadership committee and incoming recruits. 

The firm also announced that, in offices where men make up more than three quarters of partners, at least one in four partner promotions should go to women from July 2020.

As of today, all incoming partners and senior business professionals joining the firm from elsewhere should meet the new targets.

Jaime Trujillo, Baker McKenzie’s acting global chair, said, ‘We have more female partners than any other law firm and for the last three years our promotions to partner have been on average 40% women.

‘Our new 40:40:20 targets will ensure that we continue to do everything possible to make sure the firm is a fair and inclusive place to work.’

Baker McKenzie is the latest to announce diversity goals in a sector under pressure to reduce the dominance of white males in its senior ranks. Magic circle Clifford Chance says it is on track towards a target of 30% female partners.