Linklaters has been named as the UK's most diverse law firm in 2010 according to the Black Solicitors Network (BSN) Diversity League Table, which ranks firms based on information from 48 law firms.

The ranking combines law firm demographics across four different strands of diversity – disability, ethnicity, gender and sexual orientation – with policy and practice information from the firms.

Baker & McKenzie was ranked as the second most diverse law firm overall, with Norton Rose, Trowers & Hamlins and Irwin Mitchell making up the rest of the top five.

However, when disregarding policies and ranking firms only by demographics, Russell Jones & Walker tops the rankings, with Allen & Overy emerging as the most diverse of the big City firms, placing 14th overall.

US firm O'Melveny & Myers heads the ranking of ethnic minority partners, with 22%, followed by Weil Gotshal & Manges and Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton at 14% and 13%.

Linklaters managing partner Simon Davies (pictured) said that building a diverse culture was a top priority for the firm. He said: "We aim to have a working environment in which individual differences are respected and valued and colleagues support and encourage one another to excel. The BSN encourages the legal community to share best practice and the Diversity League Table provides a helpful opportunity to gauge our progress."

Sarah Gregory, a partner and chair of the Diversity Committee at Bakers in London, commented: " We work hard to ensure that our culture is a diverse and inclusive one and are therefore delighted to have achieved our best-ever ranking in the BSN diversity league table 2010. The table continues to do a great job of raising awareness of diversity within the legal profession as a whole."