The mentoring programme has been facilitated by Reed Smith’s Multicultural Network Committee and is designed to enhance retention of ethnic minority individuals at the firm. It is a new element of the firm’s global Racial Equity Action Plan (REAP), which launched last year.

The firm has partnered with the award winning mentoring and training consultants Goal 17 to create a nine month pilot programme that will run from June 2021 to March 2022. The programme is initially open to 20 individuals with a view to growing the intake after the first cycle.

Mentees will work with senior lawyers and staff across the firm’s UK offices to create specialised mentoring plans in order to support their career development. All mentors will undertake accredited training.

Time spent training and mentoring will be recognised as CPD and creditable as billable hour credit towards DE&I initiatives.

Andrew Jenkinson, Reed Smith’s London office managing partner, said: “There are several studies that show that a mentoring culture can provide the missing link to help create true social mobility and diversity within an organisation; providing a progressive pathway of support at every level. Reed Smith is firmly committed to retaining and developing our talent from all ethnic backgrounds and so we are delighted to launch this hugely valuable initiative.”