Trilegal signs the UN Women’s Empowerment Principles

Indian legal firm Trilegal is pleased to announce that it has signed the chief executive statement committing it to the Women’s Empowerment Principles (WEPs). The move follows its recent recognition as the only Asian Law Firm of the Year for its efforts in promoting diversity (Women in Business Law). The signing of the WEPs was supported by the joint EU-UN Women regional programme WeEmpowerAsia. By signing the WEPs, Trilegal commits to implementing them and advancing gender equality in the workplace, marketplace and community. The seven principles are as follows:

• Establish high-level corporate leadership for gender equality
• Treat all women and men fairly at work – respect and support human rights and nondiscrimination
• Ensure the health, safety and well-being of all women and men workers
• Promote education, training and professional development for women
• Implement enterprise development, supply chain and marketing practices that empower women
• Promote equality through community initiatives and advocacy
• Measure and publicly report on progress to achieve gender equality

Trilegal works to empower women by providing equal opportunities to women lawyers to take up leadership roles and lead high profile engagements and client relationships. They also strive to create a safe environment through proper governance and people practices. Their rewards philosophy promotes equity and high performance.

By becoming a signatory of the WEPs, Trilegal strives to remain an employer of choice and take responsibility to create a culture shaped by the tenets of diversity, equity and inclusion, and to commit to the values of these in letter and spirit.

“We congratulate Trilegal for taking the first step on their WEPs journey,” said Sarah Knibbs, Officerin-charge of UN Women Asia and the Pacific. “The private sector is a crucial partner in closing gender gaps in the world of work and advancing the Sustainable Development Goals. Companies that implement these principles offer great potential for advancing gender equality.”

Sridhar Gorthi, partner and member of Trilegal’s management committee, said, “the firm is committed to ensuring a safe and inclusive workplace where people from diverse backgrounds can thrive. There is no question that diversity in opinions and perspectives strengthens the firm and allows us to serve our clients better. We welcome this opportunity to partner with WeEmpowerAsia and help us take our efforts to the next level.”

Notes to the editor

The Women’s Empowerment Principles (WEPs) are a set of principles offering guidance to business on how to promote gender equality and empower women in the workplace, marketplace and community. Jointly established by UN Women and the UN Global Compact, the WEPs are informed by international labour and human rights standards and grounded in the recognition that businesses have a stake in, and a responsibility for, gender equality and women’s empowerment.

The WEPs serve as the umbrella framework for multi-stakeholder networks to work together to foster implementation and awareness of the internationally agreed standards for business practices that empower women and advance gender equality.

About WeEmpowerAsia

WeEmpowerAsia is a UN Women programme funded by and in partnership with the European Union that aims to increase the number of women who lead and participate in business in China, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Thailand and Viet Nam. Launched in 2019, its purpose is to advance inclusive and sustainable growth and build more gender-sensitive trade and supply chains between European and Asian markets through the Women’s Empowerment Principles (WEPs).

About UN Women

UN Women is the United Nations organization dedicated to gender equality and the empowerment of women. A global champion for women and girls, the organization was established in 2010 to accelerate progress on women’s rights worldwide. UN Women’s efforts are based on the fundamental belief that every woman has the right to live a life free from violence, poverty, and discrimination, and that gender equality is a prerequisite to achieving global development.

About the European Union

The European Union is made up of 27 Member States who have decided to gradually link together their know-how, resources and destinies. Together, during a period of enlargement of 50 years, they have built a zone of stability, democracy and sustainable development while maintaining cultural diversity, tolerance and individual freedoms.

About Trilegal: Trilegal is one of India’s leading law firms with expertise across the full spectrum of corporate legal services. It has offices in four cities and has been consistently rated for its quality of client service. It has been recognised as ‘Best Overall Law Firm in India’ as part of the India Business Law Journal Annual Indian Legal Awards 2021. It has also been recognised as “M&A Law firm of the Year” by VCCircle Awards 2020; ‘Law Firm of the Decade’ at the RSG Grow India Summit and Awards 2019; one of the most innovative law firms in Asia in the inaugural edition of ALB Trailblazers 2020 and ‘highly commended’ in the FT RSG Innovative Lawyers Awards 2020.

For more information, please contact

Sahil Wason, Senior Manager – Business Development (sahil.wason@trilegal.com)
Suhela Khan, Country Programme Manager, WEA India (Suhela.Khan@unwomen.org)