Despite many initiatives at law firms, gender diversity remains an elusive goal, particularly at senior levels.

Research from the Thomson Reuters Institute and Acritas shows that globally, women now either equal or outstrip men in junior lawyer roles, but by the time they get to partner level, men outnumber women by two to one. Whilst this is a global problem, it is particularly acute in the UK and Europe, where women account for 59% of junior associates but only 21% of partner roles — a larger gap than we found among firms in North America or Asia-Pacific.