As Practice Group Leader, Chief Operating Officer, and now Chief Client Officer at McMillan LLP, John Clifford has helped to make the legal industry a more inclusive space for LGBTQ+ professionals. As a founder of Fierté McMillan Pride, John championed initiatives to support LGBTQ+ lawyers, including policies for transgender employees and guidelines for gendered pronouns. Under his leadership, McMillan achieved Rainbow Registered Accreditation and the firm’s DEI practices factored into McMillan being named one of Canada’s Top 100 Employers. John mentors younger 2SLGBTQ+ lawyers and shares his journey through internal and external platforms, inspiring others to embrace authenticity. Externally, John leads exeQutive, a networking group for 2SLGBTQ+ professionals, hosting events to promote career development. He has received awards for his contributions to diversity and inclusion, including Start Proud’s “Leaders To Be Proud Of” and Lexpert’s Zenith Award. McMillan and the broader legal community are more inclusive spaces because of John’s advocacy and leadership.
