We actively seek and promote diversity in the firm. This is evidenced directly by our 100-plus lawyers who currently hold 31 nationalities, are qualified in 20 jurisdictions and speak 26 languages.
We value a diverse and inclusive workforce at LALIVE, treating everyone with respect. Diversity embodies all differences that make us unique individuals – life and work experiences, perspectives, cultures, religions, ethnicities, gender, sexual orientation, age, socio-economic status, and other aspects of life.
We also have the highest ratio of women in leadership positions of any law firm in Switzerland, with over 30 per cent female equity partnership, a woman Chair of the Management Board, as well as gender equality among other lawyers.
LALIVE Women’s Network
Our active LALIVE Women’s Network (LWN) provides a forum to exchange ideas on issues of gender diversity, with a particular focus on legal career development for women, specifically the retention of female talent and achieving equal gender representation, in particular at senior level in the partnership, as well as recognition of the work performed by women lawyers in and outside the firm.
Since its creation in 2015, the LWN has also helped the firm address specific issues which affect everyone, such as work-life balance, workload allocation and management, part-time work and perceived gender bias. This has led to beneficial measures being introduced across the firm; we were, for example, one of the first firms in Switzerland to introduce fully paid, three-week paternity leave, above the two-week statutory minimum. This also applies in the UK.
The group meets regularly for short, informal exchange, including with the firm’s management, and actively seeks out inspirational speakers for presentations to the group.
Our Swiss salary equality policy
We run regular audits to examine the effect of our salary equality policy. These audits are carried out using the official analysis tool provided by the Swiss Federal Office for Gender Equality; our latest 2021 audit results are categorised as an exemplary ‘green’ which means that there is ‘no gender effect’.
External organisations and sponsorship
An important part of our activities is the external promotion of equal opportunity and gender diversity driven events, associations and initiatives, through executive and officer positions, direct firm sponsorship, and active participation. These include: