CC shuns London in delayed promotions round

The firm, which normally makes up its new partners at the beginning of May, postponed this year’s round so it could focus on its global restructuring (13 April 2009). The new partners will take up their posts on 1 August.

This year’s round is dramatically different to last year’s, when the partnership welcomed 35 new members to its ranks. Of those, 11 were based in London (7 April 2008).

Until this year the London office has generally received the highest percentage of each new intake of partners.

According to firmwide managing partner David Childs (pictured), this year’s round demonstrates the firm’s commitment to its international network.

“These promotions reflect the firm’s continued commitment to building breadth and depth of expertise across practice areas and geographies,” he said. “Investing in the best people and creating outstanding career opportunities for our lawyers remains one of the firm’s highest priorities.”

The firm said it has particularly favoured growth markets in this year’s round, with its Hong Kong and Beijing offices gaining five new partners between them. Dubai and São Paulo gained one new partner apiece.

In terms of practice areas, the firm has continued with its traditional focus of favouring finance, with the practice gaining six of the new partners. Corporate has gained five while capital markets and litigation and dispute resolution have gained three new partners each.

Clifford Chance’s reduced intake of new partners is in line with those seen at its magic circle rivals earlier in the year. Allen & Overy promoted 20, down from 28 in 2008 (1 May 2009), Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer made up 14, down from 25 (23 March 2009), and Linklaters promoted 18, down from 28 (6 April 2009).

Clifford Chance’s new partners are:

Finance

Fabricio Longhin, Washington

Matthew Truman, Hong Kong

Yang TieCheng, Beijing

Simon Crown, London

Deborah Zandstra, London

Iain White, London

Corporate

Matthias Feldmann, Hong Kong

Terence Foo, Beijing

Björn Heinlein, Düsseldorf

Christoph Holstein, Düsseldorf

Mike Taylor, Dubai

Capital markets

Isabel Carvalho, São Paulo

Gregor Evenkamp, Frankfurt

Frederick Lacroix, Paris

Litigation and dispute resolution

George Kleinfeld, Washington

Donna Wacker, Hong Kong

Inigo Villoria, Madrid