Page 18 - Transformation Report 2023

Developing Directors 16

Becoming a director is the final step in the evolution of a professional and the culmination of
many years of investment from a candidate legal practitioner level. This final step, however,
is high, as opportunities for director appointments in smaller firms are often reliant on director
retirements or economic growth which can support new director appointments.

This translates to a smaller turnover in directors than at other levels in firms and an attendant
smaller number of new director appointments. However, with the continuous growth in both
black and female candidate legal practitioner and legal practitioner appointments across the PH
Group, it is a certainty that in time director appointments at member firms will follow suit.

In 2022, 42% of all director appointments were black appointments with 34% of all
appointments being black and white female appointments. In 2023, black director appointments
fell to 36% with black and white female appointments moving up to over 40% of all
appointments. Despite marginal increases and decreases the average percentage of black
director appointments over the last 4 years continues to hover around the 40% mark as does
the percentage of female director appointments.

This remains a promising number with room for growth as rising professional legal practitioner
percentages will positively affect director appointments going forward.

42% 34%

2022 2022

Black director appointments Black and white female director
appointments

36% 40%

2023 2023

Black director appointments Black and white female director

appointments

GROUP