Although UK firms have started promoting again within the UK, there is still strong reason for lawyers to gain experience in Asia or the Middle East, more are making partner outside the UK than within. The UK’s top-50 law firms have increased their partner promotions by 38per cent in 2011, and 60pre cent of those appointments have been within Asian or MENA countries. Growing market confidence from UK firms as well as a number of trans-atlantic mergers is the reason for the increase, according to a report, published by Legal Week.

The news is good for lawyers toiling away into the wee small hours in Hong Kong or Singapore or Dubai, as Asia alone made up 11per centof all partner promotions, while the Middle East and Continental Europe together saw half of all partner promotions made outside the UK.

Clifford Chance, Herbert Smith, Linklaters, Barlow Lyde & Gilbert, and Ince & Co were among the firms to promote significant numbers to partner over the past few months. Altogether the number of partners promoted by UK firms so far this year was 495, up from 358 in 2010. Four UK firms are yet to announce their promotion rounds and Herbert Smith, Bird & Bird, Taylor Wessing, Kennedys, LG and Wragge & Co opted not to announce promotion rounds for 2011. Bird & Bird and did announce the promotion of two female partners, Trowers & Hamlins promoted six women to partner.

Further results of the report are summarised below:

495  total global promotions among the U.K.'s top 50 firms
38   percentage increase in partner promotions over 2010
61   percentage of partner promotions outside London
6     number of firms seeing a drop in partner promotions
25   percentage of global promotions that involved women
15   number of firms where women comprise at least 30 percent of new partners

Image courtesy of Aaron Gardner, Lancashire