Herbert Smith Freehills’ United States merger partner has scrubbed references to diversity initiatives from its website, just months after lauding a shared commitment to diversity as a key reason for the $3 billion tie-up.

Kramer Levin’s co-managing partner Paul H. Schoeman had previously pledged to “ensure that DEI remains part of our firm’s overall business strategy” and, in announcing the HSF merger in November, said the firms shared “a deeply rooted commitment to diversity and inclusion”.