It has been 12 months since Swiss Pharmaceutical giant Novartis International told its legal panel firms that they must use diverse teams of lawyers or risk having some fees withheld.

Firms were asked to ensure at least 30% of billable associate time and 20% of partner time was provided by females, ethnically diverse, and LGBTQ+ professionals, and the company made it clear that firms making commitments to diversity and inclusion were at an advantage when it chose its lawyers.