In its latest global partnership promotion round, Kirkland & Ellis has promoted another eight of its London associates to partner, the same as last year, as 90 lawyers join the firm’s 735-global partnership.
While London saw 8% of the firm’s total promotions, 87% were made in the US with the largest group in Chicago – Kirkland’s original hometown – which had 38 associates move up the ranks, followed by 18 in New York and 10 in Washington DC.
The remainder were appointed in Los Angeles, San Francisco and Palo Alto in the States; Hong Kong and Shanghai which saw one associate promotion each; while two were made up in Munich.
While the firm does not tend to promote partners as equity members, it is known to make up associates earlier on in their careers and therefore has a large number of junior partners. Associates to make partner in London included Carl Bradshaw, Aprajita Dhundia, Justin Gardner and Fatema Orjela in corporate; Robert Bradshaw and Kirsteen Nicol in debt finance; Jifree Cader in restructuring; and Neema Dowson-Collins in litigation.
Meanwhile, Goodwin Procter has promoted 19 lawyers to partner, with just one making the cut in London. The addition of newly made-up City partner James Spence brings partner headcount at Goodwin Procter London office to eleven.
‘We are delighted to welcome James to the partnership,’ said David Evans, London office chair. ‘His promotion is another step in the development of our European real estate capabilities, and follows the appointment of Richard Lever and Simon Fulbrook as partners in our private equity practice earlier this year.’
Partner promotions for both firms went into effect 1 October.
jaishree.kalia@legalease.co.uk