LB100 firms Gowling WLG and Farrer & Co have carried out their latest promotion rounds, with 80% of both Farrer and Gowlings’ promotions being women.
Effective from 1 May 2017, senior associates Marie Bates, Laura Conduit, Charlotte Fraser, Elizabeth Jones and Oliver Piper will become partners at Farrers.
Each new partner has a different expertise, with Bates specialising in M&A, joint ventures and reorganisations. Conduit is a London residential property expert and Fraser is focused on disputes. Jones has a background in advising on charity governance while Piper is a private wealth lawyer.
With this latest round, Farrer boosts the total percentage of women partners to 37%, with 73 partners in total. Promotions are slightly down on last year when six senior associates were made up. However, the percentage of female appointments has grown from last year’s figure of 50%.
The number of promotions at Gowlings has significantly increased from last year, jumping from two to five. In last year’s round, the firm appointed two directors to its partnership, namely Chris Towle and Michael Twining.
This year’s process sees Sarah Galvin, Elizabeth Gane, Samantha Holland, Felicity Lindsay and Mark Stephenson elevated to partnership, with four of the five new partners women. Galvin and Lindsay are appointed from the firm’s 300-strong real estate practice while Holland and Stephenson come from the dispute resolution group. Gane will become a partner in the firm’s pensions team, bringing with her an extensive background advising trustees and employers on pensions issues. All the new partners will also assume their roles on 1 May 2017.
Gowling chief executive David Fennell (pictured) said: ‘Our new partners advise clients in some of our most successful practices and sectors. They have all demonstrated energy, innovation and commitment in helping these clients achieve their business objectives over a number of years.’
tom.baker@legalease.co.uk
Partner promotions in full:
Farrer & Co:
Marie Bates – corporate
Laura Conduit – real estate
Charlotte Fraser – dispute resolution
Elizabeth Jones – charity law
Oliver Piper – private wealth
Gowling WLG:
Sarah Galvin – real estate
Felicity Lindsay – real estate
Samantha Holland – dispute resolution
Mark Stephenson – dispute resolution
Elizabeth Gane – pensions