Magic circle firm Clifford Chance has set a range of targets around gender, ethnicity and LGBT+ inclusion, saying ‘equality of opportunity isn't the lived experience for many of our people’. 

All levels of the firm, including to counsel, senior associates and associates, should be at least 40% female and at least 40% male by 2025, the firm has announced. Meanwhile, at least 40% of global partners should be women by 2030, apart from in the Middle East, which has a separate target of 25%.

The global partnership is currently 21% female.

Clifford Chance has also set its first minority ethnic targets for the UK and the US. Some 15% of new partners and 30% of senior associates and senior business professionals should be BAME by 2025, it said.

It also aims for 3% of its global partnership to be LGBT+ by 2025.

Global managing partner Matthew Layton said: 'Creating an inclusive environment is at the heart of our Clifford Chance values, and is good for our industry, our firm, our colleagues and our clients. While we are making progress, and are proud of doing so, I recognise that today, inclusion and equality of opportunity isn't the lived experience for many of our people and we have to do much better.

'To make the change that our people, our clients and society expect from us, we need to be actively campaigning and forging positive, inclusive environments which are enriched by the diversity of our people.'

The firm has set regional gender goals to see it through the next decade. The UK partnership – which is currently 24% female - is to increase its proportion of female partners by 25% by 2025 and by 60% by 2030. This means the UK partnership should be almost 40% female in 10 years’ time.

Meanwhile, the Americas and continental Europe regions have a goal of increasing the proportion of female partners by 35% by 2025 and 100% by 2030.