Olswang has made just two partner promotions firmwide including one in the City, while Nabarro has promoted five in a City-heavy round.
The TMT firm has made up two lawyers in total this year with intellectual property (IP) and franchising lawyer Joel Vertes being made up in London, as well as TMT and sourcing lawyer Matt Pollins making the partnership in Singapore earlier this year.
The all-male round comes after the firm improved its partnerships’ gender diversity when it promoted a five-strong all-female round in 2015.
Olswang chief executive Paul Stevens said: ‘I’m particularly pleased that this year’s partner promotions are both lawyers who have trained, grown and excelled here at Olswang.’
Vertes has 13 years’ experience of advising on all aspects of IP and will also head Olswang’s franchising and licensing team, acting for clients on international transactions such as overseas brand launches and licensing arrangements. He will also focus on growing the firm’s international franchising practice in the retail and leisure sectors and will continue his contentious and non-contentious IP work for Olswang’s tech, media and sports clients.
While Vertes’ promotion will go into effect 1 May this year, Pollins was made up in February and advises clients from start-ups to global multinational corporations and governments on business and law in Asia. His practice spans commercial, transactional, regulatory and IP advice across TMT, sourcing and supply chain, including e-commerce, cloud, data, cyber security, digital media, gaming and logistics.
Nabarro, on the other hand, promoted five lawyers to its partnership of which four were made up in London with the remaining promotion in Sheffield. The majority of the round were made up in the firm’s dispute, real estate and tax practices.
Nabarro’s promotions will take effect from 1 May.
jaishree.kalia@legalease.co.uk
Olswang’s promotions in full:
Joel Vertes, IP, London
Matt Pollins, TMT, Singapore
Nabarro’s partner promotions:
Phil Anderson, tax, London
Steven Billingham, real estate, London
Cheryl Gurnham, real estate, London
Sergio Vella, real estate, London
Rachel Cooper, dispute resolution, Sheffield
