Unique programs and initiatives
Innovation:
Our innovation helps clients see further, faster. We combine forward-thinking commercial and legal insight with tech-enabled solutions. Our team is empowered with human-centered AI and cutting-edge technology and data, to deliver legal services that give businesses the advantage.
We see innovation as the marriage of our substantive experience with the smartest tools and resources. The cross-functional innovation team consists of professionals in Continuous Improvement, Legal Project Management and Legal Technology. They support lawyers in the delivery of legal services by creating efficiencies and ensuring the process is tailored to each client. Matters are streamlined through process-improvement strategies, cutting-edge technology and legal project management resources. The cross-functional design is a differentiator for Clifford Chance in the US and provides a first-in-market advantage consistent with our focus on growth and innovation.
Inclusion Initiatives: 
Clifford Chance commits to the highest standards of what we call "Responsible Business," and we are privileged to drive positive social change from a position of industry leadership across the globe. From the way we hire and develop people to the work we do and the partners we work with – these standards are embedded within our culture of teamwork and putting clients first.
As a global firm, we forge a collaborative, inclusive culture where diverse perspectives and backgrounds are recognized and valued. Where performing to your highest ability unlocks equal access to opportunities to thrive and deliver for our clients and each other. Our Affinity Groups foster a sense of community among individuals who share similar experiences—as well as their allies—while promoting support and psychological safety across the firm. All employees are welcome to join any group, regardless of background or identity. These groups include: Accelerate Americas (Women's Affinity Group, Working Parents Affinity Group), Arcus Americas (LGBTQ+), CliffVets Americas, Enable Americas, and REACH Americas (Race, Equality and Celebrating Heritage) including (Asian American & Pacific Islander (AAPI) Affinity Group, Black Affinity Group, Jewish Affinity Group, Latino Affinity Group, MENASA (Middle Eastern, North African & South Asian) Affinity Group.)
Chaired by partner Ty'Meka Reeves-Sobers, our Americas Inclusion Leadership Team works with our affinity groups and management to focus on the identification, retention and development of talented professionals with the philosophy that advancement should be open to all, and to promote awareness of the issues affecting equal opportunity in the legal profession and the communities that we serve. The leadership team is also a driver of policy change, consistently finding better ways to support our colleagues and promoting one firm community.
Selected Inclusion Events
Arcus Global Pride Art Exhibitions: Arcus hosts its annual art event every June in connection with Pride Month. The 2026 exhibition showcased the work of artists and community organizations under the theme of Pride in Motion. The exhibitions open each year with a reception welcoming the artists, clients and law school students, as well as Clifford Chance employees and business partners.
Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month: In 2026, our AAPI Affinity Group hosted a community service activity in each of our US offices in partnership with Heart of Dinner, a non-profit that supports elderly Asian American community members experiencing food insecurity and social isolation.
AAPI Allyship Campaign Event: In 2025, the AAPI Affinity Group marked a meaningful milestone in our allyship journey and welcomed back Professor Yoshino—an influential voice in the field. The session empowered the AAPI Affinity Group, along with many others, to continue embracing allyship as a daily practice. Through thoughtful dialogue and actionable strategies, the campaign has fostered deeper collaboration, innovation, and a stronger sense of belonging.
South Asian Heritage Month Program: To mark the firm’s inaugural celebration of South Asian Heritage Month in the Americas, our Middle Eastern, North African and South Asian (MENASA) Affinity Group hosted a program in 2025 honoring the personal and collective journeys that shape South Asian identity. The event featured author and public speaker Wajahat Ali, who shared his experiences as a first-generation Pakistani American and a storyteller committed to bridging global divides.
Black History Month: In 2026, our Black Affinity Group hosted a live saxophone performance accompanied by a curated slideshow celebrating influential Black artists, leaders, and cultural figures from the past hundred years in recognition of Black History Month.
Hispanic Heritage Month: In 2025, our Latino Affinity invited colleagues to events including a happy hour to taste empanadas and share food traditions, and a chance to enjoy a cafecito and pan dulce while hearing about pro bono work that Clifford Chance colleagues had the opportunity to support.
International Day of Persons with Disabilities: To acknowledge International Day of Persons with Disabilities in 2025, we hosted two former attorneys in the Disability Rights Section at the U.S. Department of Justice for a conversation exploring the intersection of disability, poverty, and public service through the lens of the law.
Juneteenth: Celebrating and Commemorating Freedom Days. In 2026, the firm hosted a fireside chat featuring Jelani Cobb, Dean of Columbia Journalism School, staff writer at The New Yorker, and historian of race, democracy, and American history. The conversation reflected on the origins and significance of Juneteenth, explored its relevance today, and considered how history continues to shape our shared experiences and perspectives.
Women's Affinity Group: In 2026, we hosted a regionwide Women in Sports panel, featuring leaders who have built impactful careers across the sports industry. The discussion explored leadership journeys, navigating complex environments, and how inclusive opportunity strengthens teams and organizations.
CliffVets: To celebrate Veterans Day in 2025, our Veteran’s Affinity Group, CliffVets, hosted a discussion with Gerry Byrne, who served as a Marine Corps officer in Vietnam.
Pro Bono and Educational Seminars
My Sisters' Place: My Sisters' Place is a non-profit organization based in Westchester County that provides services to survivors of domestic abuse and also focuses on advocacy and community education. Clifford Chance funds a full-time legal Fellow who, in addition to providing direct client services, provides pro bono training and supervision to lawyers at the firm and facilitates collaborative projects with our clients.
The Vera Institute of Justice: The Clifford Chance Foundation has partnered with this non-profit organization to support a one-year Fellow working on
Vera’s Unlocking Potential Initiative. The Fellowship is open to students in their third year of law school. The Fellow's placement is part of a comprehensive relationship between Clifford Chance and Vera, encompassing work from the General Counsel's office, as well as from Vera projects.
Human Rights Watch: Experts from global pro bono client Human Rights Watch recently held a discussion on "Universal Jurisdiction." US federal courts have jurisdiction over certain serious international crimes—like torture, genocide, and war crimes--even where they occur outside of the United States. The use of national courts to try these crimes under what is broadly known as "universal jurisdiction" has become an increasingly important avenue to provide justice to victims who have nowhere else to turn.
The International Center for Advocates Against Discrimination, known as ICAAD is one of the firm's strategic pro bono clients. Clifford Chance lawyers have assisted ICAAD with tracking gender-based violence in Pacific Island nations and helping to develop sentencing guidelines for judges to use in imposing just punishments on offenders. We have explored potential remedies under international law and treaties for environmental damages and other injustices suffered from nuclear testing by Pacific Island nations who are renegotiating their compacts of free association with the United States. And we have examined potential pathways for relief for workers in India's tea gardens who suffer substandard working conditions and low wages. These projects have allowed us to do meaningful work for underprivileged people while learning about their cultures and histories.