More firms are expanding their parental leave policies.

Ashurst has broadened its parental leave policies globally following a review of its current offering.

For the first time, all of the firm's partners worldwide will be entitled to at least 18 weeks of fully-paid primary carer leave – traditionally maternity leave. In countries where the firm offers more generous packages – such as the U.K., which offers 26 weeks – it will remain the same.

Previously, the firm's primary carer leave entitlement across some jurisdictions was as low as eight weeks.

"Part of our thinking about diversity and inclusion is that we want to have good policies that support women, men and the whole family," Ashurst EMEA and U.S. HR head and HR operations global head Claire Townshend told Legal Week, Law.com's U.K. arm.

"We've looked at what we think is the right thing to do for several months," she said. "For primary carer leave, we decided a global minimum of 18 weeks was the right thing."

The firm has also expanded its parental leave – traditionally paternity leave – to entitle parents globally to receive two weeks of fully paid leave within the first eight weeks of the child's arrival. This doubles the current entitlement in several countries, such as Australia, and introduces paid leave for the first time in others, according to the firm.

In the U.K., the amount of time parents can take as shared parental leave – time taken off at the same time as the other parent – has increased from four to 18 weeks on full pay. This is reduced to 16 weeks where parental leave has already been taken. That change matches the current entitlement in Australia.

The increase follows a disappointing take-up of the policy by men in the firm's U.K. office, with only about 2% of new fathers taking up the option.

The new policies have been backdated, so any parents to a child born after 1 September are able to take advantage of the new policies.

Ashurst began a review of its policies in April, with the aim of increasing the number of men taking part in the U.K. scheme and having a more integrated global maternity programme.