DLA Piper, Eversheds and Pinsents beat magic circle on UK promotions
DLA Piper, Eversheds and Pinsents beat magic circle on UK promotions" />DLA Piper, Eversheds and Pinsent Masons are the biggest promoters of UK associates in this year's promotional round, scoring more than their magic circle rivals.
While the global promotions surpassed Eversheds' previous years, the UK number remained the same as last year with 21 associates entering the partnership.
Chief executive David Gray said the new promotions reflected Eversheds' strategy of expanding its London base, despite promotions being down in the capital, where six associates were appointed to the partnership - one less than last year.
DLA Piper's London office scooped 10 new additions. Overall the UK received 18 of the 28 partners spread across Europe.
The firm has come in for criticism from rivals for having the tightest equity ratio in the City at just 29 per cent, but it has maintained UK growth over the past three years, with 2004-05 seeing 17 new partner, 2005-06 seeing 16 and the last round having 18. However, DLA Piper's global partner count grew by a massive 66 this round - an increase of seven from last year - highlighting the firm's global intentions.
Pinsents continued to shore up its UK presence by appointing 16 UK associates to the partnership. This builds on last year's round, which saw 11 associates enter the UK partnership. The past three years have seen Pinsents generally bolster its UK offices, with just six associates promoted overseas.
While Linklaters enjoyed a bumper round of 38 promotions, almost two-thirds of them will be based in offices outside the UK, with just 15 joining the London office.
Clifford Chance's London headquarters saw 13 associates being made up to partner, four up on last year's figure of highest of all Clifford Chance offices, managing partner David Childs was keen to stress that there was no intention to boost the London office intentionally, but he noted that the London market was particularly buoyant at the moment.
Allen & Overy promoted 12 in London, with 63 per cent of the firm's promotions going overseas.
Lovells has attempted to stem the mass exodus of 35 partners who quit the firm last year, making up 31, of whom 12 went to the London office. Senior partner John Young was keen to focus on international development, saying that "two-thirds of the candidates are outside of the UK, demonstrating the tremendous development of the firm's international network since 2000".
