Men dominate Slaughter and May partner promotions

Men dominate Slaughter and May partner promotions

In eight –strong cohort, only one of whom is woman, even though the five-year average is just a little short of the long-term goal.

Several months after releasing 'ambitious' diversity targets for the first time, Slaughter and May revealed a largely male-dominated partner promotion program.

Among the eight new partners, only one (12.5percent) is a woman - disputes and investigations specialist, Megan Sandler - compared to two out of five in 2021, which was in line with the firm's goal to promote at least 40percent of equity partners globally by 2027.

Over the recent years, leading law firms, including Slaughters, have made efforts to improve their diversity records, including releasing targets and launching new programs, and also by hiring more women in senior positions.

The firm's five-year average of 38percent women promoted in this round is quite a bit higher than Slaughters' goal, but the results are quite good. It can also boast that beginning from 1st May, 2022, 45percent of its partnership board will be women and two-thirds of its executive leadership: newly elected managing partner Deborah Finkler and recently appointed Chief Operating Officer Jill Hoseason.

The firm's launch of a flexible working initiative in July and the publication of targets last May in addition to David Wittmann's recognition that diversity "is essential for the firm's long-term success" makes this year's round atypical.

Slaughters now has 110 partner members, 93 in London and 17 in its offices in Brussels, Beijing and Hong Kong. Effective May 1 around the world. Approximately 25percent of the partnership is female.

In addition to the gender goal, there is a commitment to promote 15percent of equity partners from ethnic minority backgrounds between May 2020 and April 2025 in London and Brussels. As of today, the firm is running 6percent ahead of the target.

Sandler joins the firm's London office along with Charles Osborne, who joins the team in the tax group, Kevin Howes, who joins the team in the finance department and Chris Sharpe, who joins the pension, employment and incentives, group.

Competition lawyer Jonathan Slade and corporate and M&A lawyer Richard Hilton complete the London cohort. Slade is set to join the firm's Brussels office in the coming months. Additionally, Hong Kong-based associates Justin Chan and Vincent Chan are moving up in the corporate and M&A practice.

Slaughter and May's senior partner, Steve Cooke, commented on the election: "We're delighted to welcome them to our firm". Their experience in providing excellent advice to our clients already has a proven track record; they are expected to make a significant contribution to the growth of our business."

After last month's announcement that senior Slaughters partners Simon Nicholls and Richard Smith had taken over as the practice's new leaders, the trio has been promoted within the corporate and M&A team. Upon commencing their new roles on 1 May, the duo will succeed corporate head Andy Ryde and M&A director Roland Turnill, who was selected last September for the role of senior partner to succeed Cooke in May 2024.