DLA Piper doubles City promotions amid 48-strong round

London was home to eight of DLA Piper’s expanded partner promotions round, double the number made up last year as the Anglo-American law firm moves to expand in key legal hubs.

Some 29% of this year’s 48-strong promotion round at DLA were based in the UK – with 14 making partner at DLA this year, compared to nine in 2015. Eight of the promotions were in London.

Of the City promotions, the corporate, restructuring and litigation and regulatory teams each received two promotions. The London intellectual property and technology and finance and projects groups received one promotion apiece. The firm’s Leeds and Liverpool offices each received two promotions, with real estate duo Richard Thompson and Andrew Batterton made up as the UK’s booming property market feeds regional UK lawyers.

Reflecting a recent focus on key global hubs, New York also saw a significant slice of the promotions with five new partners at its Avenue of the Americas office, where DLA recently took on more space.

The 48-strong round is the largest since 2012, when DLA made up 58. Corporate saw the largest intake of new partners with 12 promotions, followed by litigation and regulatory with 10 and real estate with seven. The firm’s tax group saw the biggest increase, up from one promotion in 2015 to five this year, as European and US authorities ramp up their focus on tax avoidance and take a harder line on inversion deals that re-domicile corporates to cheaper tax jurisdictions.

With joint Europe and Middle East managing director Juan Picón replacing Nigel Knowles as senior partner on 1 May, the firm has named his replacement, with Milan-based real estate partner Olaf Schmidt elevated to the role.

Co-chief executive Simon Levine (pictured) said: ‘Developing the capability of our people and helping them to realise their potential is a key part of our global strategy and allows us to deliver the highest quality service to our clients.’

tom.moore@legalease.co.uk