The group is made up of tax lawyer Peter Abbott, commercial real estate lawyer Nick Barnes, corporate M&A duo Alexander Green and Justin Hope, and litigation specialists James Popperwell and Gideon Sanitt.

Senior partner Charles Martin commented that the promotions constitute a 'large group by historic standards but one that is uncharacteristically and disappointingly lacking in women.' The firm had 16 per cent female partners at June last year, just half the Solicitors Regulation Authority's estimated female partner average at UK firms, and has stated that it wishes to improve internal diversity.

Although a small increase on last year’s five promotions, this year lags behind the firm’s 2014 round when nine lawyers were made up – though that had been its highest number since 2005.

Source: Legal Business