A&O promotes eight associates to counsel

Allen & Overy (A&O) has promoted eight senior associates to counsel status in London, less than a week after announcing its 2008 partnership promotions.

The counsel role was introduced in October 2006 and in the first round last year A&O promoted a total of 17 associates to counsel in London.

In a statement outgoing managing partner and senior partner elect David Morley congratulated each of the new counsel on achieving this "milestone in their career".

The London employment and benefits team and the international capital markets group each gained two new counsel. Each of these departments saw only one partner made up in the latest partnership round in London.

Only one counsel was created in each of corporate and banking, which had dominated the London partnership promotions with four and two new partners each.

In 2007, corporate, banking and international capital markets had scored a massive three counsel promotions each.

Promotions of counsel in A&O's international offices will be announced in due course.

The counsel role was introduced in 2006 to provide an alternative career
path for associates and, according to A&O, is intended to "recognise
individuals who have a valuable long-term contribution to make to the firm
in a role other than partner".

New Counsel

Banking: Carolyn Jackson
Corporate: Brian Sher
Employment and benefits: Jane Dale and Deepa Nathan
International capital markets: Fran?ois Gilbert and Christopher Hardingham
Private client: Rachel Khiara
Derivative services: Victoria Wells