Clifford Chance (CC) is the latest Magic Circle firm to unveil its partner promotion figures, making up seven associates in London out of a 21-strong round.
The promotions, which will take effect from 1 May 2014 and will bring the total number of partners in the firm to 587, represents 3.7% of current partner numbers.
The seven City promotions span the firm’s finance, capital markets, and disputes practices, while globally the firm made up the remaining associates across multiple jurisdictions including New York, Beijing, Hong Kong, Singapore, Bangkok, Perth, Frankfurt, Paris and Abu Dhabi.
The 3,017-lawyer firm said a significant number of the new partners are focused on supporting its clients in growth economies, while the figures also reflect the firm’s ’emphasis on mobility’ as a significant number have already spent time working in CC’s international offices, gaining ‘important exposure to different jurisdictions and client environments’.
Clifford Chance managing partner-elect, Matthew Layton said: ‘An international mind-set and an ability to grasp the nuances of different markets and sectors are a pre-requisite of a Clifford Chance partner. This year’s cohort of new partners can also already claim impressive reputations in their areas of expertise and extremely strong client relationships. I congratulate each of them on their achievements thus far and wish them highly successful and rewarding careers in the Clifford Chance partnership.’
Last year CC welcomed 20 new lawyers to its partnership, with three-quarters of those promotions spread across Europe, while five were London-based, including private equity lawyer Tom Evans who has since departed to Latham & Watkins.
Recent weeks have seen Magic Circle rivals Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer and Allen & Overy (A&O) promote significantly smaller numbers of just 15 and 16 partners respectively, while Linklaters elected 21 new partners across its global network, with seven made up in London.
sarah.downey@legalease.co.uk
The full list of partner promotions:
Americas
Michael Seaton – Tax, Pensions & Employment, New York
Asia Pacific
Richard Blewett – Corporate, Beijing
Liu Fang – Capital Markets, Hong Kong
Valerie Kong – Corporate, Singapore
Paul Landless – Finance, Singapore
Richard Lee – Capital Markets, Hong Kong
Phil Sealey – Finance, Perth
Joseph Tisuthiwongse – Finance, Bangkok
Continental Europe
Joachim Hasselbach – Corporate, Frankfurt
Anne Lemercier – Tax, Pensions & Employment, Paris
Delphine Siino Courtin – Finance, Paris
Michiel Sunderman – Tax, Pensions & Employment, Amsterdam
Paul van den Abeele – Corporate, Luxembourg
London
Barry O’Shea – Finance
Caroline Meinertz – Finance
Alis Pay – Real Estate
Matthew Scully – Litigation & Dispute Resolution
Judith Seddon – Litigation & Dispute Resolution
David Towers – Finance
Maggie Zhao – Capital Markets
Middle East
Antony Single – Finance, Abu Dhabi
