Alicia Millar, co-chair of PRISM, Reed Smith’s LGBT network in Europe, the Middle East and Asia (EMEA), has been shortlisted for the Diversity Champion award at the British LGBT Awards.

The British LGBT Awards are designed to showcase individuals and organisations who have demonstrated an outstanding commitment to the LGBT community. The awards ceremony, which in 2015 was the largest publicised LGBT event in the UK, takes place on Friday 13 May 2016.

The Diversity Champion award recognises individuals who have initiated positive change within their company throughout all areas of diversity, and particularly LGBT initiatives.

Alicia, a manager in the learning and development team in London, is co-chair of PRISM. She was nominated for growing the network internally, as well as acting as a spokesperson and ambassador on LGBT issues for the firm and the wider professional community. Alicia also co-chairs the Network of Networks LGBT chapter, which is a professional forum for LGBT network chairs across London. Last year, Alicia won the ‘Rising Star in Law’ award with WeAreTheCity, and was named by Brummell Magazine as one of its ‘Inspirational Women’ for 2015.

Already a Stonewall diversity champion, Reed Smith recently secured a place in the Stonewall Top 100 Employers Index 2016 for the first time. PRISM itself, which is a visible champion for inclusion, diversity and LGBT engagement within and on behalf of the firm, was recognised by Stonewall as a “Highly Commended Network Group 2016”.

Along with hosting and partnering on events with LGBT support and networking groups, Reed Smith and PRISM host an annual summer party for clients, industry contacts and employees to celebrate diversity and to champion the need to promote an inclusive environment for LGBT employees.

Sakil Suleman, partner and head of Reed Smith’s UK Diversity Committee, commented:

“This is a wonderful achievement for Alicia. She has played a fundamental role in driving forward our LGBT network and is an ambassador both within the firm and externally.”

ENDS 

Note to editors:

About Reed Smith

Reed Smith is a global relationship law firm, with more than 1,800 lawyers in 26 offices throughout Europe, the Middle East, Asia and the United States.

Diversity & inclusion

Diversity and inclusion are central to Reed Smith’s business. The talent pool is changing rapidly and the firm is determined to attract candidates from the widest pool possible, to continue to be competitive and to ensure the very best service for our clients. The firm sees differences as a strength and works hard to ensure a fair and inclusive environment for all, where the unique insights, perspectives and backgrounds of individuals are valued

Reed Smith runs a number of programmes focused on all aspects of diversity and inclusion, including: race and ethnicity, disability, social mobility, gender equality and the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender community. The firm’s inclusion wheel summarises the key inclusion initiatives being undertaken both internally and externally.

For further information, please contact Andrew Darby (senior corporate communications executive EME) on +44 (0)20 3116 3795.