Legal Business Blogs

Women make up two thirds of CRS partnership round as BLP drastically reduces promotions

Berwin Leighton Paisner (BLP) has made up four partners worldwide in a significantly smaller promotions round, while Charles Russell Speechlys (CRS) promoted four in London, two thirds of whom are women, in a round of six.

BLP promoted about a quarter of last year’s round when it made up 17. Of this year’s four promotions, half were in London, one in Frankfurt and one in Moscow.

The two partners promoted in the City, Patrick Johnson and Gareth Stringer, are joining the corporate and real estate practices respectively. Philippe Kamarowsky also joins the finance practice in Frankfurt, while Vitaly Dianov joins litigation and corporate risk in Moscow.

BLP managing partner Lisa Mayhew (pictured) said: ‘2017 has produced four outstanding lawyers worthy of their promotions. Those joining our partnership will be role models and encourage others to progress their careers at our firm.’

Meanwhile, CRS also promoted six to partner. Helen Hutton and Naomi Nettleton joined the real estate practice, Paul Arathoon joined in business services, Sakhjit Randhawa in private propertly, while Rupa Lakha and Michael O’Connor joined in construction.

CRS senior partner Christopher Page said: ‘These promotions are a reward for hard work, quality skills, top service to our clients and considerable contribution to enhancing the values and reputation of the firm. Our hard work and dedicated focus on diversity is paying dividends, with two thirds of those promoted being female.’

The new appointments are effective 1 May.

Other firms to release their partner promotions this month include Herbert Smith Freehills promoting 21 globally across eight offices, with 12 based in the UK and EMEA, as Allen & Overy  made up 10 partners in London in an increased global round of 24.

Meanwhile, Addleshaw Goddard saw a sharp drop in the number of associates being made up, from 15 last year to five5 in this year’s round, and a further drop from the 18 promoted in 2015.

The full list of partner promotions is as follows:

BLP

Patrick Johnson, London, corporate

Gareth Stringer, London, real estate

Philippe Kamarowsky, Frankfurt, finance

Vitaly Dianov, Moscow, litigation and corporate risk

CRS

Paul Arathoon, London, business services

Helen Hutton, London, real estate

Naomi Nettleton, London, real estate

Rupa Lakha, London, construction

Michael O’Connor, London, construction

Sakhjit Randhawa, London, private property