J.P. Morgan recently went where no investment bank has gone before – to share best practice with its key relationship law firms on promoting workplace inclusiveness for gay and lesbian employees.

The firm joined with Stonewall, the UK’s premier gay and lesbian civil rights organization, to present a seminar devoted to the value and benefit of openly inclusive work environments. “In the past year, J.P. Morgan has intensified its efforts to ensure that gay and lesbian colleagues are treated fairly and that we cultivate an environment where all employees can reach their fullest potential without regard to sexual orientation,” said Tim Hailes, chairman of J.P. Morgan PRIDE London, a networking group for LGBT employees. “We’ve learned valuable lessons that we wanted to share with the principal law firms that we work with and employ.”

Led by Stephen Frost, Director of Workplace Programmes at Stonewall, the event attracted 40 managing and relationship partners at City law firms, and focused particularly on the legal workplace and its unique circumstances.

According to Stonewall, the legal community in London is perceived by some to lag other industries in addressing workplace equality for gay and lesbian employees, despite substantial goodwill on the part of City law firms. “We wanted to provide law firms – especially those with whom J.P. Morgan does business – an opportunity to discuss the issues and help equip them with tools to address them proactively and in line with their firm’s unique cultures,” said Hailes.

The Lawyer  magazine took notice, and made the seminar a front-page story on March 19, saying, “The bank’s move underlines the seriousness with which institutional clients now regard diversity in City law firms.”