This is his story:

Why did you decide to come out at work? 

I was out at my old firm but when I joined Linklaters I went back into the closet… albeit briefly and probably unintentionally. 

I wanted to be out and open because I had spent too many years not being myself and certainly not my happiest or best self. 

I know we talk about being our “authentic” selves at work and some may think that is a cliché or buzzword, but for me it is absolutely everything — if I’m not out and open, I’m not myself and not able to be the best lawyer I can be.

Describe that day for us — how were you feeling? 

It was such an odd thing because it wasn’t really a thing. We were in a conference call in the partner’s office (old school — around the speakerphone). After that, we had to work out plans for the rest of the week and try to avoid bank holiday weekend work. 

We were talking about plans and the partner asked what I was doing. I said: “David and I are flying out on Friday to Madrid for the weekend.” It wasn’t even planned — I just said it and that was that. 

There was no real reaction. The partner’s response was that Madrid will be great in May and that David and I will have a great time. Prior to that, I’d always talked about “my other half” — never my boyfriend. 

From then on, the partner would always make the effort to ask me what I was doing, how David was, etc, and would openly do that around others. There was no drama and I’m sure he also had those discussions with other partners in the group. 

I’ve always respected that partner for how he just made it not a thing but was clearly supporting me behind the scenes. 

How did your company support you after you came out at work? 

Linklaters has always been — and, for me, always will be — a place of meritocracy and where we want people to be the best at their work; a place where they can feel supported and able to be open and just do amazing work. Where you need more support, there are always people there for you, either within your team or outside in different parts of the firm.

What advice do you have for someone who’s scared to come out at work? 

My advice would be: don’t be scared! Just do it. Do it naturally and don’t make it as big of a thing as it is in your own head. If you can manage that, it will be worth its weight in gold and won’t really be that big of a deal. 

What can finance firms do better to support LGBTQIA+ employees?  

Firms that can have open and honest interactions without being “awkward” really make a massive difference. We are there to be ourselves and ultimately to be amazing at what we do. That’s what Linklaters has provided for me in giving me space to be myself and be the best finance lawyer I can be.

Financial News’s inaugural Pride of Finance list celebrates coming out at work stories of senior figures who have led by example to champion LGBTQIA+ inclusion. See the full list here.