Wixted & Co Limited

Wixted & Co. is committed to eliminating discrimination and promoting equality and diversity in its own policies, practices and procedures and in those areas in which it has influence.

This applies to the firm's professional dealings with staff and other solicitors, barristers, clients and third parties, and specifically to discrimination and equality of opportunity in respect of “protected characteristics” as defined in the Equality Act 2010:

• age;
• disability;
• race;
• sex;
• religion or cultural beliefs;
• gender reassignment;
• marital status and civil partnership;
• sexual orientation;
• pregnancy and maternity.

The firm’s equality and diversity policy applies across the range of the firm’s employment policies and practice. We will make such adjustments as are reasonable in all the circumstances in order to prevent any of our employees or clients who are disabled from being placed at a substantial disadvantage in comparison with those who are not disabled.

In developing and implementing our Equality & Diversity Policy, the firm is committed to complying with Principle 9 of the SRA Principles 2011 and Chapter 2 of the SRA Code of Conduct 2011 and with all current and any future anti-discrimination legislation and associated codes of practice including, but not limited to:

• the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974;
• the Employment Rights Act 1996;
• the Human Rights Act 1998;
• the Part-Time Workers (Prevention of Less Favourable Treatment) Regulations 2000;
• the Fixed-Term Employees (Prevention of Less Favourable Treatment) Regulations 2002;
• the Civil Partnership Act 2004;
• the Work and Families Act 2006;
• the Equality Act 2010; and
• any other relevant legislation in force from time to time relating to discrimination in employment and the provision of facilities or services.

All partners/ members/ directors / managers and employees of the firm must also comply with the outcomes set out in Rule 2 of the SRA Code of Conduct, namely: O (2.1)

O(2.1) you do not discriminate unlawfully, or victimise or harass anyone, in the course of your professional dealings;

O(2.2) you provide services to clients in a way that respects diversity;

O(2.3) you make reasonable adjustments to ensure that disabled clients, employees or managers are not placed at a substantial disadvantage compared to those who are not disabled, and you do not pass on the costs of these adjustments to these disabled clients, employees or managers;

O(2.4) your approach to recruitment and employment encourages equality of opportunity and respect for diversity;

O(2.5) complaints of discrimination are dealt with promptly, fairly, openly, and effectively.