Addleshaw Goddard has landed a guaranteed spot on BT’s next legal panel after impressing the telecoms giant with its diversity and inclusion work.

Announcing its current legal panel in 2020, BT said the firm with the best diversity and inclusion record at all levels (partners, associates and trainees) would automatically be offered a slot on the next panel.

Yesterday, BT said Addleshaw Goddard’s range of ideas, innovations, attention to detail and overall enthusiasm helped the firm beat other contenders to the top position.

Sabine Chalmers, BT’s general counsel, said: ‘When we began looking at our next legal panel, we wanted to ensure that all the firms involved are playing an active role in building a more diverse and inclusive legal industry. Throughout the assessment process, we were delighted to see that this is an issue that many firms are already taking seriously.

Sabine

Sabine Chalmers, BT’s general counsel

‘We’re delighted to be able to confirm that against very strong competition Addleshaw Goddard were selected as the leading firm in driving diversity and inclusion, and we look forward to working with them as a part of our next legal panel.’

Current panel members BCLP, Osborne Clarke and CMS received special mention in yesterday’s announcement for ‘their ability to provide clear evidence of actions they’ve taken across various levels of seniority and geographic regions’.

While Addleshaw Goddard’s spot has been confirmed, the rest of the panel will be confirmed next year.

BT is one of many corporates using its buying power to promote greater diversity and inclusion among external firms. Nokia introduced a ‘scorecard’ to assess panel firms’ efforts to build an equitable, diverse and inclusive environment. Microsoft said it would award up to a 3% financial bonus to UK panel firms that hit the tech giant’s diversity targets.

 

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