Trowers doubles promotions with Middle East flourishing

Trowers & Hamlins has made its biggest promotional round ever, appointing 15 new partners, almost double last year's count.

Of the new appointments, eight will be in London, five in the Middle East and one each in the Manchester and Exeter offices. The hires bring the total number of partners to 107.

It was an outstanding year for associates. Only eight were promoted last year, seven the year before that and five in 2004-05.

The Middle East promotions are a sign of new ambition in the region following a freeze on partner promotions there in 2006-07.

The drive includes a plan to launch an office in Saudi Arabia after the firm ended its affiliation with Riyadh-based Hassan Mahassni (The Lawyer, 1 March). The firm said it is in "advanced negotiations" to open its own office in Riyadh following the recruitment of Naeif Rawaf, a Saudi national, from Riyadh investment bank Capital Group (The Lawyer, 19 February).

Domestically the firm made three promotions in projects, two in corporate, two in commercial housing and one each in commercial property, dispute resolution and social housing. The corporate promotions are the first the group has seen since 2004-05.