Firm appoints dedicated CSR & diversity manager
Travers Smith LLP has announced the recruitment of Chris Edwards as the firm’s first dedicated corporate social responsibility (CSR) and diversity manager. Chris joins Travers Smith on 13 April from Stonewall.
A highly-regarded diversity and inclusion adviser, Chris has over 10 years of experience of providing technical and strategic support to global corporates, public sector agencies and local government. He is currently the client group manager at Stonewall for the legal and real estate sectors, and manages Stonewall’s relations with around 70 UK law firms.
In his new role Chris will work closely with the firm’s CSR partner Daniel Gerring and Siân Keall, who is the partner responsible for promoting diversity and inclusion, as well as the firm's managing and senior partners David Patient and Chris Hale. He will have project management responsibility for all elements of Travers Smith’s CSR and diversity portfolio. Additionally, Chris will support the firm’s partnership to further enhance client relationships by identifying opportunities to partner up with clients on CSR and diversity projects.
David Patient comments: “I am delighted to welcome Chris Edwards to the firm. A strong commitment to CSR and diversity is at the heart of Travers Smith’s culture and is embraced across all parts of the firm. Chris’s arrival is a reflection of our strategic objective to further embed corporate responsibility and diversity in all that we do.”
Daniel Gerring adds: “Our CSR programme has developed considerably in the last few years. We are never short of volunteers for our charities, community engagement and pro bono initiatives and are very proud of the strong ethos of promoting social and ethical values which exists at Travers Smith. Chris’s appointment is a real testament to the value we place on CSR and will help us take our commitment and passion for it to a new level.”
Siân Keall says: “We have made great strides with our diversity and inclusion programme in the last few years. I am proud of our achievements to date, particularly in relation to the establishment of the LGBT, faith and women employee networks and Diversity Week, a week long programme of events focussed on diversity issues. Chris’s expertise and long-standing experience in D&I will be invaluable to us in the next stage of development and I very much look forward to working with him.”
