London dominates as Clifford Chance adds 22 to partnership

Clifford Chance has promoted 22 lawyers to partner, five more than were made up last year.

The magic circle firm’s London headquarters is better represented than last year when only three partners were based in the jurisdiction. This time round, five are based permanently in the City, with one more - corporate partner Jonathan Rees - dividing his time between London and Moscow.

In total, 14 jurisdictions are represented. Three of the new partners will be based in New York. Their promotions follow last week’s news that the firm’s US partnership headcount has shrunk by 21 per cent over the last years (3 May 2010).

For the second year running, four new partners have been promoted in Asia, reflecting the firm’s push into the region.

Moscow has seen two new partners made up, including the firm’s first antitrust partner in the jurisdiction, Torsten Syrbe.

In practice area terms, the firm’s corporate, finance and litigation teams will each have their partner numbers bolstered by six. Two new partners come from the capital markets practice, with one each from real estate and pensions and employment.

Global managing partner David Childs said: “It is always a pleasure to welcome the next generation of talent into the partnership.  These new partners all enjoy strong client relationships and have a deep understanding of the markets, sectors and regulatory issues that are so important to global businesses today.   

“Moreover, they make an invaluable contribution to the development of the firm through their personal investment in expanding the firm’s intellectual capital, in fostering our talent and through their active involvement in important pro bono activity. I look forward to working with them all.”

The new promotions take Clifford Chance’s global partner headcount to 560.

The new partners in full are as follows:

Corporate

Han Ming Ho, Singapore

Nicholas Rees, London/Moscow

Stefan Sax, Frankfurt

Sumesh Sawhney, London

Torsten Syrbe, Moscow

Tim Wang, Beijing

Finance

John Dawson, London

Bert de Maeyer, Brussels

Anne Drakeford, London

John MacLennan, London

Loren Richards, Frankfurt

Jason Young, New York

Capital Markets

Leng-Fong Lai, Tokyo

Gareth Old, New York

Litigation & Dispute Resolution

James Abbott, Dubai

Carlo Giampaolino, Rome

Cameron Hassall, Hong Kong

Alvin Khodabaks, Amsterdam

Michael Kremer, Dusseldorf

Kelwin Nicholls, London

Real Estate

Daniel Kopania, Warsaw

Tax Pensions and Employment

Avrohom Gelber, New York