Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer has revamped its global diversity team, appointing new members to the firmwide committee dealing with diversity and inclusion and giving a further three partners responsibility for diversity issues in London.

The firm has named internal communications head Kate Laffar as leader of its global diversity and inclusion team, with London corporate head Mark Rawlinson and intellectual property partner Avril Martindale also appointed to the team from the beginning of the month (1 June).

They replace corporate partner Barry O'Brien, former banking partner Chris Howard and employment partner Kathleen Healy on the global committee, which is chaired by senior partner Will Lawes (pictured).

Real estate partner Annette Byron, dispute resolution partner Andrew Austin and risk and compliance director Jonathan Kember will champion diversity initiatives in London.

The new members have each been given an area of focus, with Rawlinson to take the lead on work/life balance and flexible working initiatives and Martindale focusing on gender. Byron, Austin and Kember will lead efforts in ethnicity, sexual orientation and disability respectively.

Lawes commented: "Diverse organisations perform better – clients increasingly demand we share their diversity values and we need to be a place where all feel welcome. It will also help ensure we continue to attract and develop the very best talent and are recognised across our global footprint as an employer of choice."

Freshfields' recent diversity initiatives include unconscious bias training, coaching, development and mentoring for women associates, maternity transition coaching, as well as free emergency childcare for all employees in London and Germany.