Herbert Smith Freehills is offering all employees in its nine Asian offices up to 24 weeks of paid parental leave, regardless of gender and sexual orientation – an unusually generous and progressive plan for the legal sector in Asia.

The new policy, which will take effect on May 1, allows primary caregivers to take up to 24 weeks leave with full pay, while secondary caregivers will be allowed to take up to three weeks with full compensation. The programme is available to all parents working at the firm, regardless of gender, sexual orientation or other circumstances. It also applies to adoption and surrogacy. And it applies regardless of statutory limits in each jurisdiction.