Dechert has expanded its London parental leave policy.

Employees taking maternity, adoption and shared parental leave can take 23 weeks leave, fully paid, from the arrival of their child compared to 18 weeks previously.

Meanwhile new fathers have been granted the first 12 weeks of paternity leave on full pay, compared to four weeks previously, the firm's statement on the changes added.

The changes apply to all London employees, including business services professionals, associates and counsel.

The firm said in a statement: "These enhancements emphasise Dechert's support for working parents in the London office regardless of gender or job title."

Dechert is the latest to expand its offering. Last year several firms implemented changes to their respective parental leave policies, including Ashurst, Linklaters, and Paul Hastings.

Ashurst expanded its parental leave policy globally, entitling all of the firm's partners worldwide to at least 18 weeks of fully-paid primary carer leave when it was previously as low as eight weeks in some jurisdictions.

Meanwhile, Magic Circle firm Linklaters allowed any U.K. employee whose partner is having a baby, whether naturally, through adoption or surrogacy, to take up to 12 weeks of fully paid leave at any time during the first 12 months from the arrival of the child.

Paul Hastings broadened its parental leave policy to its London office with lawyers and employees able to take up to 14 weeks of paid parental leave. The policy applies to men, women, foster and adoptive parents.