One of the world’s biggest law firms is getting a bit more casual reports Financial News London….
Baker McKenzie, which employs more than 4,700 lawyers globally and generates annual revenues of close to $3bn, has relaxed the dress code at its London office to allow staff to wear smart jeans instead of the usual suit and tie.
The move comes as City firms attempt to appeal to a younger generation of workers who prefer less formal work environments. The world’s biggest asset manager BlackRock and investment banks JPMorgan and Goldman Sachs are among those in the Square Mile to have enacted similar initiatives.
Alex Chadwick, a managing partner at Baker McKenzie, told staff in an internal memo that they can now adopt “business casual attire” — typically reserved for Fridays — all year round.
It follows a decision by the firm to allow staff to wear more casual clothing during the very high temperatures experienced across the UK this summer.
Chadwick said in the memo, which was sent in late September: “We have seen that this has had no impact on the projected professionalism of our people and therefore we see no issue with permitting business casual attire throughout the year.”
Baker McKenzie’s business casual dress guidelines do not extend to leggings, shorts, spaghetti-strap tops, flip-flops, ripped jeans or trainers and Chadwick said “it remains the case that we should all dress appropriately to reflect our working commitments on any given day”.
The financial sector is tussling for talent with technology firms known for less buttoned-up work environments.
https://www.fnlondon.com/articles/law-firm-baker-mckenzie-relaxes-london-dress-code-20181003
