Four women among those promoted as global law firm chases 40% female partnership target
Silver circle law firm Ashurst has elevated 12 lawyers to partner level as part of its latest round of promotions — with four women among the newbie partners.
Three of the promotions went to lawyers at the international giant’s City office, two of whom are women.
Julia Derrick joined the firm in 2005 as a trainee and specialises in corporate and commercial matters. Donna Fleming — an asset management and real estate finance specialist — joined Ashurst in 2007, having qualified elsewhere. The only male partner promotion at the firm’s London office went to Ewen Scott, who joined Ashurst in 2010.
Other female partner promotions outside the Square Mile went to Rebecca Dixon of counsel at Ashurst’s Sydney office and Diana Rodríguez Redondo, who is an employment lawyer at the firm’s Madrid office.
A quick glance of Legal Cheek’s Most List reveals that while 55% of the firm’s UK associates are female only 18% make up partner positions. To address the problem — which is commonplace at many of the top City firms — Ashurst set a global target of 40% for female partner promotions by 2018. Today’s news marks a positive step towards the firm’s ambitious target with 34% of new partner positions going to women.
Six further lawyers from the firm’s Frankfurt, Melbourne, Perth and Hong Kong offices also received the nod. In the wake of the new promotions — which took effect from 1 May 2016 — Ashurst’s managing partner James Collis said:
The appointment of these partners reflects their expertise and their excellence in client service and commitment to their practices and the firm as a whole. I know I speak for my successor Paul Jenkins as well in wholeheartedly congratulating all the successful candidates.
Previously:
Women partners: Eversheds smashes 25% gender diversity target as CMS and Norton Rose Fulbright eye 30% [Legal Cheek]
Half of Allen & Overy’s new London partners are women [Legal Cheek]