Highlights

• U.S. Am Law 50 firms see 30% drop in responsible business reporting.
• Only 14 U.S. firms mention diversity, while 77% of U.K. firms continue to use the word.
• Pro bono commitments surge among U.S. firms despite reduced DEI reporting.

U.S. law firms are reducing their public reporting on diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI), while U.K. firms show an increase in such reporting, according to a report by Lamp House.

The research examined 150 top law firms, including the Am Law 50 in the U.S. and the top 100 firms in the U.K., evaluating responsible business practices under the categories of people, planet, and governance.

The study found that Am Law 50 firms’ scores fell by 30% compared to last year, whereas U.K. firms recorded a 12% rise.

Read More: Survey: Corporate DEI Rollback in US Hits 20% of Firms

In terms of language, only 14 U.S. firms mentioned ‘diversity’ on their websites, whereas 77% of U.K. firms continued to use the word. U.S. firms increasingly use the word ‘inclusion’, now appearing on 40% of websites.

Several U.S. firms have removed references to DEI from their websites following a letter from the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), which requested details on their DEI policies.

High-profile firms, including Freshfields, Kirkland & Ellis, Latham & Watkins, and Hogan Lovells, made such changes in March.

According to Lisa Hart Shepherd of Chambers and Partners, political factors in the U.S. have influenced what firms are willing to disclose publicly regarding initiatives for women, ethnic minorities, and LGBTQ+ staff.

Also Read: US Companies Quietly Rebrand DEI as Backlash Grows

Influential leaders noted that EEOC scrutiny makes it difficult to be public about inclusion programmes. Despite this, the internal importance of a welcoming work environment remains, as associates continue to value such conditions.

The report also found that U.S. firms stay committed to pro bono work, with 48% of firms linking it to individual performance or billable hours, up from 34% in previous years. This indicates that, although public DEI reporting has declined, firms continue to engage in responsible business practices in other areas.

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Source: Law.com