In the latest round of partnership promotions, Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer has made up 15 new partners to its ranks. While that figure does not represent a return to 2011 and 2012 levels, when 20 partners were made up, it is a slight increase on last year, when the number fell to 14.
Out of the 15 promotions, 13 have been promoted across Europe with five in London; three in Frankfurt; two each in Hamburg and Amsterdam; and one in Brussels. The remaining two lawyers were promoted to partner in the firm’s Tokyo and New York offices.
In terms of practice breakdown, the largest beneficiary was the Magic Circle firm’s disputes practice, where there were five promotions, following by finance (four); corporate (three); and one each in real estate, employments pensions and benefits; and antitrust, competition and trade. The appointments will take effect from 1 May 2014.
Freshfields senior partner Will Lawes said: ‘We are delighted that these outstanding young partners are joining the firm. They are all highly talented lawyers with a strong track record of client success. As a group, they will add significantly to the depth of our market-leading client offering around our firm.’
The news follows Allen & Overy’s (A&O’s) 16 partnership promotions, which the 2,700-lawyer firm announced earlier than expected in February to enable new partners to attend its partnership conference in March. That figure represents a 16% drop on 2013 promotion numbers, when 19 partners were made up.
Across A&O’s practice groups, international capital markets received the largest intake of new partners, with six promotions in total. This was followed by litigation and banking with four promotions each, and two in the corporate department. The firm made most of its promotions in London (five), followed by three each in Dubai and Hong Kong, and one in Perth, Sydney, Frankfurt, Amsterdam and New York.
jaishree.kalia@legalease.co.uk
