Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer is taking gender diversity into account when building teams on its biggest disputes cases.

The move, which is unusual according to rivals, sees the department attempt to achieve a gender balance on teams unless there is a good reason why they cannot.

New London disputes head Sarah Parkes last week set out new diversity targets for her team, which involve equal representation in work allocation and on key client-facing and internal speaking panels, as well as gender-balanced instructions to counsel and experts.

Commenting on the change, she said: "We have a particularly strong pipeline of talented female associates, and try to ensure that we're thinking about whether they are getting an equal chance to work on the biggest cases, as part of this broader focus on diversity."

The drive within the City dispute resolution practice is being managed by work allocation manager Michelle Dobson, a former associate at the magic circle firm. In November, Dobson was promoted to head of resource strategy and operations for the London disputes practice, and is tasked with helping ensure fair female representation on key mandates, such as the Europe-wide VW emissions case.

The initiative takes its cue from the Freshfields' EDGE [Everyday Gender Equality] commitment, which launched in November and seeks to encourage a culture of inclusion and diversity.

Parkes is also encouraging her partners to seek equal gender representation on client and training speaking panels, with a view to "creating a more gender-balanced work environment".

Of its associate cohort, about eight out of 10 are female, according to one partner, which the practice's leaders believe will translate to a better gender balance at partner level within the coming few years.

It follows the magic circle firm's recent success in Legal Week's survey of general counsel at major companies, in which it was named the firm that most impressed for its diversity and inclusion initiatives.

Freshfields' London head of international arbitration, Sylvia Noury, is also a founder and co-chair of Equal Representation in Arbitration, which seeks to increase the number of women appointed as arbitrators in international arbitration tribunals.