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UK gender pay gap widens at Clifford Chance and McKinsey

Source: ft.com

TL;DR

Clifford Chance and McKinsey report widening UK gender pay gaps in latest filings.
Clifford Chance median hourly gap rose to 38.1%; McKinsey mean hourly to 23.5%.
Highlights stalled diversity progress in elite professional services amid mandatory reporting.

The story at a glance

Clifford Chance and McKinsey disclosed increased gender pay gaps in UK operations for the year ending March 2025, bucking the national narrowing trend. The Financial Times reports these elite firms among those seeing disparities grow, driven by fewer women in top roles despite diversity efforts. Annual UK gender pay reporting, mandatory since 2017 for firms over 250 employees, spotlights such reversals.

Key moments & milestones

2017: UK mandates gender pay gap reporting for large employers.
2024: Clifford Chance median hourly gap at 33%; McKinsey mean hourly at 22.8%.
March 2025: Snapshot data shows Clifford Chance median rises to 38.1% (+5.1 points); McKinsey mean to 23.5% (+0.7 points), median to 12.6% (+3%).
March 2026: Firms publish reports; Clifford Chance notes mean hourly fell to 18.2%.

Signature highlights

Clifford Chance (employees only): Mean hourly gap 18.2% (down from 19.8%); median 38.1% (up from 33%); women 54.4% upper quartile (up 0.7%).
McKinsey (all UK staff incl. partners): Mean hourly 23.5% (up 0.7%); median hourly 12.6% (up 3%).
Gaps reflect structure: Men dominate senior roles; women overrepresented in support (e.g., Clifford Chance practice assistants 100% female).
Clifford Chance overall (incl. partners/subsidiaries): Mean 55.3%, median 38.6%; partner median 27.3%.
Both firms voluntarily report beyond statutory requirements, including ethnicity/disability gaps.

Key quotes

None identified in available coverage.

Why it matters

Rising gaps at top firms signal persistent barriers to women in senior positions despite transparency laws. Employees and clients may question talent pipelines and equity in high-stakes sectors like law and consulting. Watch 2026 reports and diversity targets for reversal signs.[[1]](https://www.cliffordchance.com/content/dam/cliffordchance/About_us/responsible-business/2026/uk-pay-gap-report-2025-march-26.pdf)[[2]](https://www.mckinsey.com/uk/our-people/uk-gender-pay-gap-report-2025)