Herbert Smith Freehills (HSF) is set to roll out a firmwide diversity initiative aimed at boosting the number of female lawyers making partner at the firm.

Over the past year, the firm has been working with Wanda Wallace, the CEO of US consultancy Leadership Forum, to develop five key programmes that will be rolled out across its international offices this month. Global M&A head Stephen Wilkinson and competition partner Susan Black have been taking lead roles in the initiative.