In the past three years Addleshaw Goddard took on 19 laterals and made 23 internal promotions. Having chopped partnership numbers in the wake of the merger between Theodore Goddard and Addleshaw Booth & Co, the 2003-04 financial year saw a boom in internal candidates, with no fewer than 10 promotions. 2004-05 was slower, with three internals, but 2005-06 saw another spurt, with 10 internals plus a record-breaking 12 laterals (at the time of writing).

The intake in year 2005-06 was swollen by the mass hire of Hammonds’ construction litigation team, consisting of five partners, which joined in Leeds. The partners brought seven assistants with them, so it will be interesting if any homegrown Addleshaws assistants will make partnership in that area.

Otherwise, Addleshaws took on a number of laterals as part of a push in London in 2005-06, with senior hires from firms such as Lovells and Mayer Brown Rowe & Maw.