Employer statement for WGEA 2024-25 gender equality reporting

Understanding our gender pay gap (GPG)

A&O Shearman Australia submits GPG data to the Workplace Gender Equality Agency (WGEA) for two separate employing entities: our partnership, which employs fee earning roles, and our service trust, which employs support roles.

It is important to distinguish between the GPG and equal pay. The GPG reflects the difference in average or median remuneration between women and men across an entire organization, irrespective of role or level. Equal pay, by contrast, concerns whether women and men are paid equally for performing the same work at the same performance level. A&O Shearman Australia ensures equal pay for equal work, and we conduct regular reviews of our remuneration data to confirm this.

We understand that our GPG exists due to the gender composition of roles within our firm. Like many organizations in the legal industry, our gap is influenced by structural factors, including the distribution of men and women across different roles and levels. Both of our entities recorded average total remuneration gaps below their respective industry benchmarks this reporting period. We remain focused on narrowing this gap over time.

Our approach to inclusion 

A&O Shearman Australia is committed to building an inclusive workplace where all employees can belong and excel. 

We believe inclusion is for all, spanning many characteristics, backgrounds, perspectives and generations. Our work covers many dimensions and the intersections among them. We consider the individual, the community, the firm, our clients and the wider world. 

We aim to integrate inclusion considerations into all aspects of our people experience, from structured lifecycle processes to our expectations around how we conduct day-to-day interactions.

Our inclusion policies, which are open to and welcome all colleagues, support this commitment:

• Gender-neutral parental leave: All parents can access up to 26 weeks of paid parental leave, with no distinction between primary and secondary carers. 
• Superannuation during parental leave: We continue employer superannuation contributions during both paid and unpaid parental leave for a combined period of up to 12 months. 
• Family formation support: Paid leave is available for fertility treatments, adoption processes, surrogacy arrangements, and pregnancy loss. 
• Flexible working: We offer flexible working arrangements to support employees in balancing their professional and personal responsibilities.

Our ongoing commitment

We are a firm where individuals with different perspectives, backgrounds and experiences belong, excel, and make a decisive difference. The strength of the firm is underpinned by a common culture and a set of shared values. We are focused on quality, collaboration, and entrepreneurship with a strong commitment to inclusion.

Narrowing the GPG remains a priority for A&O Shearman Australia, and we will continue to monitor our data and refine our approach to ensure all employees have the opportunity to thrive.