City partner promotions outpace firmwide among Global London firms

US firms in London increased their partner promotions in the City at a significantly faster rate than their firmwide promotions over the last year, according to data from LB‘s Global London report.

The total number of new partners across the 50 Global London firms – the biggest non-UK firms operating in the capital – rose by nearly 10% in 2025, up from 158 to 173.

In contrast, firmwide promotions increased by just 6% from 1,383 to 1,469.

The growing investment in London talent is most prominent this year at Paul Weiss, which promoted almost a third of its total partners in its City office.

Paul Weiss’s most recent promotions round saw 34 new partners made up, ten of which were in London — more than 29% of the total figure.

This is a dramatic increase from last year, when the firm promoted only one partner in London and 34 globally.

Paul Weiss has grown its London practice substantially in the last five years, as the firm continues to prioritise City growth through both lateral hires and moving internal talent up the ranks. Its most recent London promotions saw finance, funds, and M&A feature heavily, with two promotions each in antitrust and tax.

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Also increasing its focus on London was Gibson Dunn, where City partner promotions made up just over 26% of its total. The firm made up eleven new partners in London, of a total of 42 globally.

Again, this marks a big shift, as the firm’s London promotions made up less than 6% of its total last year, with just two promotions out of 35 globally.

In its most recent London promotions, Gibson Dunn also focused on antitrust, promoting two new partners in the practice. It also promoted an additional two partners in London to its transportation and space group, where the firm has a strong and growing reputation, acting as lead counsel for SpaceX on its record-breaking IPO this year.

Kirkland & Ellis topped the list of London promotions with 36 — just over 15% of its firmwide total of 234. However, this was down on last year, when the firm promoted 40 partners in London, nearly a fifth of its total 204 promotions.

Latham & Watkins also saw a dip in London’s share of promotions, despite an increase in raw numbers from nine last year to 11 this year, with London’s share of total promotions dipping from just under 21% to less than 18%.

Weil increased its London promotions from two last year to four this year, despite a slight dip in overall promotions from 18 to 17. The City promotions, which made up just under 24% of its firmwide total, were concentrated in its private equity and M&A team, as the firm made up two new partners in this practice, as well as one in banking and finance and one in tax.

Weil has also made several hires in its PE and finance practices, following the departure of a three-strong team to Sidley last April. Also last April, the firm hired PE secondaries partner Simon Saitowitz from Ropes & Gray, while in July it brought over funds partner Phil Baynes, who rejoined three years after leaving for legacy Shearman & Sterling.

Willkie also saw a notable increase in London promotions, with seven this year — more than 23% of its firmwide total of 30, up from just one last year. The firm focused its interest in the City on its corporate and finance team, which gained three new partners, as well as its asset management practice, which gained two.

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Meanwhile, White & Case trebled its London partner promotions, from three last year to nine this year, equating to a fifth of its total of 45, up from 8% last year.

In addition to its promotions, White & Case was on a clear buildout mission last year, hiring a total of 14 partners in London.

In its latest round, the firm promoted two London partners each into its M&A and project finance practices. Of its hires, five were in its M&A and PE teams, including PE partner Helen Croke, who moved to the firm from Ropes & Gray last June, and corporate partner Richard Browne, who joined from A&O Shearman at the start of the year.

That said, White & Case did also see a number of partner departures last year, including a three-strong real estate and infrastructure finance team to Milbank and PE heavyweight Ross Allardice, who moved to Latham & Watkins.

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