LGBT Community

Mishcon de Reya has long been committed to ensuring and promoting equality and diversity. Indeed, over 50 years ago our founder, Lord Mishcon, sat on the Wolfenden committee, which recommended that homosexual behaviour between consenting adults in private should no longer be a criminal offence. The committee's recommendations eventually led to the passage of the  Sexual Offences Act 1967.

Pink Law

As part of this ongoing commitment, and in response to requests from the gay community for advice specific to its needs, three years ago we launched Pink Law in conjunction with the Legal Advice Centre of the School of Law at Queen Mary, University of London. Pink Law gives free and impartial legal advice to the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered community.

Lawyers from Mishcon attend the centre on a monthly basis to supervise law students from Queen Mary as they interview clients. Under Mishcon's guidance, the students then research the legal issues and draft letters of advice to the clients, which are reviewed and approved before they are sent out. Advice is given on a range of legal issues including: employment discrimination; civil partnership formation and dissolution; cohabitation issues; immigration; and hate crime.

Pink Law was highly commended in the Best New Pro Bono Activity category of the LawWorks and Attorney General Students Awards 2009, and the team of students which Mishcon lawyers support won the Best Team of Students category in the same Awards in 2010.

Civil Marriage - an Issue of Equality

Can there be equality without civil marriage?

Mishcon de Reya hosted a debate, in collaboration with the Gay Womens' Network, to promote the Government's consultation on Equal Civil Marriage. With speakers from Liberty and the Government Equalities Office, the event provided plenty of inspiration and provoked a lively debate.

Watch highlights of our event below:

To participate in the consultation - click here.