Wake Up Call: Freshfields Sets 40% Female New Partner Target

In today’s column, the Covid-19 pandemic has aggravated systemic inequities that make it harder for women to switch firms; Weil and Sheppard Mullin were among the latest Big Law firms to announce big 2020 partner profits despite the pandemic; Microsoft blamed China for a breach of its Exchange product that is growing into a global cyber security crisis.

• Leading off, elite U.K.-founded firm Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer said that by 2026 it wants women to account for at least 40% of its new partners. The London-based firm on Monday, International Women’s Day, announced new five year diversity and inclusion commitments and ...