Your prospects, frankly, are poor. Allen &
Overy (A&O) has not promoted a partner in
IP for three years (although it has just hired a
lateral from Lovells). Neither has Clifford
Chance or Norton Rose. The last Herbert
Smith IP promotion was in 2003-04.
The best IP partnership prospects are,
unsurprisingly, with niche outfit Bristows. Of
its seven partnership appointments in three
years, six have been in IP. In that time, the
firm has taken on only one lateral partner.
Lovells also does well, with eight
promotions in three years (although most
were outside London). Bird & Bird is a good
bet. In the past three years the firm has
made up 13 internal promotions across the
IP, IT, media and life sciences sectors, and 11
laterals. Field Fisher Waterhouse is also
continuing to invest in IP/tech, with one
internal promotion and at least one lateral a
year. Charles Russell tends to grow its own in
commercial/IP, having promoted three in
2004-05. Outside London your prospects are
virtually non-existent.
Olswang has promoted technology,
media and telecoms (TMT) partners – three
in three years, plus three laterals. Lewis Silkin
has grown slowly with two partner
appointments in its media/brands practice
over three years, one internal, one lateral.
Lastly, there is Denton Wilde Sapte, which is
committed to filling the hole made by the
departure of its TMT team to DLA Piper
Rudnick Gray Cary.
