City firm Herbert Smith is set to overhaul its approach to diversity and equality in relation to staffing because the firm is dissatisfied with the number of female partners on its books.

Ian Rothnie, the firm's executive partner, will lead a seven-strong steering group consisting of three partners, three assistants and a human resources assistant in trying to achieve more diverse staffing levels to include women, the ethnic minorities, homosexuals, older lawyers and those with minority religious views.

He said: 'We have a very broad remit.

We haven't settled on the terms of reference and will consider everything that we feel is relevant.

We are not quite looking at it from scratch but we've started with an open mind.

What we will be looking to achieve is diversity within our lawyer base and to enhance our ability to capture and retain talent.'

Mr Rothnie said the firm has already asked a small committee of partners and assistants to 'look at making sure we have the processes and what information we require to assess whether we've done enough and to track our future progress'.

He said Herbert Smith considers itself to have a 'US-style, meritocratic approach' but 'we must check that this is borne out'.

He added: 'We are specifically not satisfied that we are doing as much as we can to retain female talent.

'We have a lower proportion of females than we have had for many years and we want to see this change.

I would be very surprised if other firms aren't looking at this issue.'

Of Herbert Smith's 143 UK-based partners, 99% are white, 25 are women (of whom 12 are equity partners) and 63 were educated at Oxbridge.

Makbool Javaid, an employment partner at the City office of DLA and a former chairman of the Society of Black Lawyers, said: 'I think it's something to be welcomed and a good commercial decision.

There is a growing realisation that law firms, like other institutions such as banks, are applying the business case for diversity.

'They will be asking why women do not stay on because it doesn't make sense to train lawyers only for them to then leave.'

Jeremy Fleming