Legal Business

Clydes trims partner round to nine as Asia sees bulk of promotions

Clyde & Co has trimmed back on its partner promotions, making up just nine compared to 16 last year and just one in the City.

This year’s lighter round follows several years of increasing numbers for the firm, which made up 16 in 2016 and 13 the previous year.

Reflecting the firm’s recent global push, the London office saw just saw one partner promotion compared to five new partners last year, with corporate partner Richard Elks elected. Elsewhere the UK, Kate Duffy was made up in Manchester and Katie Carmichael was promoted to Edinburgh, both in insurance.

Asia gained the most new partners, with four promotions. Two partners were made up in the firm’s Hong Kong and China branch, while there was one partner apiece for the firm’s Singapore and Perth offices.

Clydes also elected one partner in Dubai and one in Atlanta. The round leaves the firm with more than 375 partners worldwide. Just two of the eight new partners were women, compared to last year when 50% of its promotions were female.

While Clydes has pursued its international strategy, opening offices in Chicago and Washington DC recently, it has also seen cutbacks in its London office with associate redundancies and a four-partner team exit for DAC Beachcroft.

Clydes senior partner Simon Konsta said: ‘As an international firm, we’re proud that our new partners reflect the diverse range of people, talent and countries in which we do business. It also demonstrates the opportunities we give people to grow and develop with us across the world.’

The promotions are effective from 1 May 2017.

Clyde & Co promotions in full:

Leon Alexander, trade & commodities/marine, Singapore

Katie Carmichael, insurance, Edinburgh

Kate Duffy, insurance, Manchester

Richard Elks, corporate, London

David Jordan, insurance, Atlanta

Kevin Martin, corporate/insurance, Hong Kong and China

Tim Searle, insurance, Perth

Ben Smith, corporate/foreign direct investment, Dubai

Dennis Wong, projects & construction, Hong Kong and China

matthew.field@legalease.co.uk