City firms report that more women are being promoted to partner – but profession has far to go to achieve equality
updated on 16 January 2020
The latest round of partner promotions at City firms indicates some progress toward greater gender equality at the top, with women making up a higher number of newly promoted partners than in previous years.
The Law Gazette reports that all three partner promotions at global firm Reed Smith’s London office went to women, with women also making up over half of the firm’s promotions worldwide.
Meanwhile, almost half of promotions across Hogan Lovells’ network of offices – and four out of eight promotions in London – were awarded to women.
Women lawyers comprised 42% of promotions globally at Norton Rose Fulbright, but only one out of eight partner promotions at the firm’s London office.
McDermott Will & Emery said its promotion round was “30% diverse” (ie, not very diverse at all).
The five magic circle firms have yet to release information about their promotions.
