Pinsent Masons has been named as the UK's best employer for LGBT staff in equal rights charity Stonewall's annual top 100 list of employers.

Other law firms to achieve success in the rankings include Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner, which was named as the UK's second best employer, and Baker McKenzie, which took 10th place.

The three law firms were also identified by Stonewall as top trans-inclusive employers, an additional award given for demonstrating "significant commitment" to trans inclusion.

Magic circle firms Allen & Overy and Clifford Chance also won spots, joining Taylor Wessing in joint 37th place.

Other firms to feature include: Slaughter and May at 70, Linklaters at 51, Travers Smith at 25, Norton Rose Fulbright at 32 and Hogan Lovells at 34.

Stonewall's index benchmarks UK organisations on the progress and commitment they make on lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans equality within the workplace.

Each company included in the table must demonstrate their progress in about 10 areas of employment policy and practice, such as on senior leadership and how well they have engaged with the LGBT community.

Trowers & Hamlins, Gowling WLG and DWF are new law firm entrants to this year's top 100.

Some 445 companies applied to be included in this year's rankings. CMS and Herbert Smith Freehills, ranked 26th and 33rd respectively in 2018, did not apply this year.

Pinsent Masons hit the top spot after finishing in second place last year behind the National Assembly for Wales.

Chris Barkley, an associate and co-chair of Pinsent Masons' LGBT+ network, said the firm is "very proud" to support Stonewall.

Pinsent Masons senior partner Richard Foley said that although reaching top spot is a "very special achievement" for the firm, the focus should be on "what the Stonewall index stands for, and what everyone engaged in it is working so hard to achieve".

Foley added: "We have a responsibility to champion change in the wider community. Supporting initiatives such as the campaign for marriage equality in Northern Ireland play an important role in prompting progress on the equality issues that we believe must be addressed."