Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer is rolling out unconscious bias training to its partners firmwide in a bid to increase diversity within its ranks.

The training, which was first piloted with corporate partners last autumn, is intended to alert partners to bias that could affect decisions regarding recruitment, promotion and attitudes to others at the firm.

It has already been given to those on the partnership selection committee ahead of the firm's 20-strong new partner promotion round last month.

The training was run by business psychology consultancy Pearn Kandola.

Freshfields head of diversity Deborah Dalgleish said: "Unconscious bias is one of those issues that has increasingly moved up the agenda for organisations in recent years in a bid to ensure institutions are not allowing personal preferences and influences to affect how they recruit, employ and promote people.

"We feel that everybody should be aware of the impact bias can have on their decisions and offering this training will encourage people to think a bit more carefully about the reasons behind their decisions and whether their motivations are the right ones, which will in turn help us to attain a greater balance and diversity of people throughout the firm."

The news comes as Freshfields pilots a series of support sessions with consultancy Talking Talent for partners managing women about to go on or returning from maternity leave.