Our vision

There's strength in diversity and inclusion. That's why our mission is to continue to embed diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) into our DNA. In doing so, we're committed to creating a better, more inclusive workplace for our people, while providing superior service to our clients.

Why?

  • Promoting equity and a culture of inclusion is simply the right thing to do.
  • Diversity helps us attract and retain top talent. We act for diverse clients across Canada and around the world, and it's important that our team reflects this.
  • Diversity helps us better serve our clients. Diverse teams bring different perspectives, apply different approaches to problem-solving, and generate better, more creative solutions.
  • Inclusion breeds innovation, collaboration, commitment and productivity.

Our strategy

We've been taking concrete steps to make our DEI vision a reality. We are committed to our national Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Strategy, which outlines clear, measurable goals to be achieved over the coming years. To guide this strategy, we partnered with Global Learning to conduct a firm-wide DEI self-identification census, becoming one of the first law firms in Canada to do so.  More than 1,500 of our legal professionals and staff across the country voluntarily took part in the census. The CCDI also conducted focus groups and individual interviews to learn more about our culture and identify specific areas of focus.

The results of the census, focus groups and interviews provided us with an important benchmark in terms of understanding where we are now, what we are doing well and where we need to concentrate our efforts.

Our DEI strategy is overseen by our People team; primarily the Head of DEI, the DEI Manager and the local office Momentum Committees.

Internal initiatives

Mansfield Rule certification: In October 2024, Gowling WLG achieved Mansfield Certification Plus status. Created by Diversity Lab, Mansfield certification establishes a clear, structured and globally recognized certification process for law firms to follow in ensuring all qualified legal professionals have a fair and equal opportunity to advance into leadership roles.

Participating firms pledge to consider a broad pool of candidates, 30% of which must consist of people from underrepresented groups. To achieve the distinction of Certification Plus, firms must also validate that individuals from underrepresented groups already occupy at least 30% of leadership roles across the majority of Mansfield’s categories.

Progressive Aboriginal Relations certification: In partnership with the Canadian Council for Aboriginal Business, Gowling WLG is in the process of achieving Bronze certification in the Progressive Aboriginal Relations certification program. As part of Phase 1 of the certification process, Gowling WLG provided the CBA-approved cultural education program The Path, in partnership with Indigenous-led NVision Group, to all firm leaders.

Reconciliation Action Plan: We have launched our own Reconciliation Action Plan – a document designed to help us address Canada's mistreatment of Indigenous peoples by outlining clear ways we will make meaningful contributions to authentic reconciliation efforts. The plan commits us to supporting reconciliation through the many ways we deliver legal services to clients – Indigenous and non-Indigenous alike – by our legal professionals and staff, and aims to ensure that everyone is culturally attuned to Indigenous-related issues, opportunities and goals.

Aim for 15: In 2023 the firm launched its Aim for 15 global challenge that encourages all billing professionals in the Canada and UK LLPs to contribute at least 15 pro bono hours per year. The initiative is designed to help the firm integrate pro bono even more deeply and consistently into our people-first culture.

Mental Health First Aid Training: Gowling WLG is proud to be the first large law firm in Canada to deliver mental health first aid (MHFA) training to partners, associates and staff across our Canadian offices. MHFA is the help provided to a person experiencing a mental health crisis or developing a mental health problem. To date, more than 120 people, including the firm's leadership team and all levels of management, have become certified MHFA providers. 

Gowling WLG Realizing Opportunities for Women (GROW): Founded by our professionals in Toronto and active in several offices across Canada, GROW promotes greater recognition and understanding of issues facing women and non-binary people in the workplace. Through engaging, well-attended networking events, GROW enables them to connect with mentors and build relationships that enhance their professional and personal lives.

External commitments

BlackNorth Initiative Law Firm Pledge: As a signatory to the BlackNorth Initiative (BNI) Law Firm Pledge, Gowling WLG is committed to addressing and ending anti-Black and other forms of structural racism in the legal profession. We signed the pledge in August 2020 alongside our colleagues at Blakes, BLG, Davies, Dentons, Fasken, Goodmans, McCarthy Tétrault, Osler and Torys, demonstrating our individual and collective commitment to achieving the goals set out in the Pledge and to delivering on the concrete, measurable actions that will effect meaningful change.

United Nations Global Compact: Gowling WLG is formally committed to the Ten Principles of the United Nations Global Compact, which focus on human rights, labour, environment and anti-corruption. The Global Compact is a voluntary initiative based on CEO commitments to implement universal sustainability principles, as well as taking steps to support the UN Sustainable Development Goals. Find out more about how we support the 10 principles of the Global Compact by reading our annual Communication on Progress.

UN Women's Empowerment Principles: Gowling WLG was the first international law firm to sign the UN Women's Empowerment Principles, a powerful global initiative designed to help businesses advance gender equality and promote women's economic empowerment within their workplaces, industries and communities.

NRCan Equal by 30: Gowling WLG is a proud signatory of Natural Resources Canada (NRCan)'s Equal by 30 campaign, a public commitment to work towards equal pay, equal leadership and equal opportunities for women in the clean energy sector by 2030.

EHRC Leadership Accord on Gender Diversity: In 2019, Gowling WLG became the first law firm to sign the Leadership Accord on Gender Diversity. Developed by Electricity Human Resources Canada (EHRC), the Accord is a call to action and public commitment by Canadian employers, educators, unions and governments to champion and promote the values of gender diversity and inclusion within their organizations.

Women Get on Board (WGOB): Gowling WLG is a proud national strategic partner of Women Get on Board, an organization that helps connect and promote women to corporate boards. We have partnered with WGOB to host a series of events for clients, including a cross-Canada roadshow on the topic of "Assessing the Risks: Directors & Officers Liability Insurances & Indemnities."

Law Firm Diversity and Inclusion Network (LFDIN): Gowling WLG is a founding member of the LFDIN, a group of Canadian law firms working together to promote diversity and encourage a culture of inclusion in our firms and the broader legal profession. As a member of the LFDIN, we're committed to its Statement of Principles.

Legal Leaders for Diversity and Inclusion (LLD) Trust Fund: The LLD is a group of Canadian general counsel from coast to coast who have declared their support and commitment for creating a more inclusive legal profession. The group established the Legal Leaders for Diversity Trust Fund to advance diversity in law faculties and provide equal access to legal education by offering annual scholarships to young people with disabilities seeking to graduate from Canadian law faculties. Gowling WLG is a proud contributor to this worthwhile cause. Since 2015, we have hosted a special annual reception to honour the recipients of an LLD scholarship.

Indigenous Law Centre: Gowling WLG is a strong proponent of the Indigenous Law Centre, which offers pre-law courses through the University of Saskatchewan. The ILC program (formerly known as the Program of Legal Studies for Native People) helps prepare Indigenous students for a career in law by giving them the opportunity to study law and develop their skills before they enter law school. It includes writing workshops, mentorship, and a supportive and collaborative classroom environment. Indigenous customary law and traditions are also significant features of the program.

Starbucks International Excellence in Diversity Award: Gowling WLG was the first Canadian law firm to receive the Starbucks International Excellence in Diversity Award. Based on an annual diversity survey of Starbucks' legal service providers around the world, the award recognized our extensive efforts to enhance diversity and promote inclusion.