Colin Passmore, Senior Partner at international law firm Simmons & Simmons, has ranked in the 2020 HERoes 50 Advocates list supported by Yahoo Finance, for the fourth consecutive year.
The HERoes Women Role Model Lists showcase leaders who are championing women in business and driving change for gender diversity in the workplace. The 50 Advocates category recognises senior leaders who are advocates for women in business and dedicated to creating a more diverse and inclusive business environment for women.
During his tenure as Senior Partner, Colin has ensured that improving gender diversity is a key business priority, focusing on progressing more women through to the partnership and into senior management positions.
Colin has actively supported gender balance and equality at Simmons, helping the firm to achieve an 11% increase in the percentage of female partners. This year 66% of internal female partner promotions were women, and 50% of our lateral partner hires to date this year have been women. A few of the key initiatives Colin has been involved with over the past two years include:
- chairing quarterly gender balance meetings with the firm’s UK gender balance partner lead, steering committee and co-chairs of TNOC (the firm’s women’s network);
- sponsoring the cost of two films and event screenings in our London and Bristol offices to mark the centenary of the Sex Disqualification (Removal) Act 1919 as part of the First 100 Years project;
- supporting the launch of email signature guidelines for the inclusion of personal pronouns; and
- seeking out conversations with clients to collaborate on diversity and inclusion initiatives.
On this achievement, Colin commented: “I am pleased to be recognised in the HERoes Women Role Model listing for the fourth consecutive year. Supporting, encouraging, and driving gender balance and equality at the firm is business critical. Creating a workplace where all voices are equal, and talent maximised irrespective of gender or other diversity characteristics benefits us all.”
The full list of the 50 Advocates for 2020 can be found here.