Walkers has promoted 14 lawyers to partner its 2026 promotions round, a slight decline from last year’s bumper round.
The 14-strong class were appointed alongside 31 new senior counsel in a global round that saw 112 people promoted in total across the offshore firm’s legal and business services teams.
The partner class is smaller than last year’s 20-strong round, one of the largest in its history, but remains broadly spread across Walkers’ main offshore, European and Asian offices. Women made up eight of the 14 new partners, representing 57% of the cohort, while 18 of the 31 senior counsel promotions were women, representing 58%.
Ingrid Pierce, Walkers’ global managing partner, said: “The strength of any firm lies in its people, and this year’s promotions reflect the depth of talent we are fortunate to have across our offices. Each of these colleagues has earned this recognition, and each will play a part in shaping the firm’s next chapter.”
Cayman was the largest source of new partners, with six lawyers promoted: Philip Aubry in private capital and trusts; Daisy Boulter in insolvency and dispute resolution; Erin Diachkoff in insurance; Charlie Griffiths in regulatory and risk advisory; Erin Panton in investment funds; and Callum Wright in regulatory and risk advisory.
Three partners were promoted in Hong Kong: Robert Gregory and Jolin Lin in insolvency and dispute resolution, and Jason Hung in regulatory and risk advisory. Two partners were promoted in Guernsey: Danielle Brouard in employment and Charlotte Goncalves in investment funds and corporate.
Jersey, London and Singapore each gained one new partner, with Nichola Brennan promoted in Jersey in private capital and trusts, Alastair King in London in investment funds and Sze Min Lim in Singapore in investment funds and corporate.
By practice, investment funds and corporate accounted for four of the new partners, reflecting the continued importance of funds work to offshore firms advising asset managers, private capital houses and institutional investors. Insolvency and dispute resolution added three partners, as did regulatory and risk advisory. Private capital and trusts gained two partners, while insurance and employment each added one.
The spread of promotions shows continued investment across Walkers’ core offshore offering, rather than favouring any one practice group, although non-contentious-related promotions edged out the contentious ones. Promotions in Walkers’ corporate services arm, which recently attracted private equity investment, will be announced later this year.
The Cayman and Hong Kong promotions will strengthen the firm’s disputes, regulatory and funds capabilities, while the Channel Islands additions add seniority in private wealth, employment and funds work. The London and Singapore promotions also underscore its onshore-facing offices in serving cross-border investment fund mandates.
The 2026 round follows a series of lateral partner hires since July 2025. Simon Hurry joined the firm’s Jersey disputes practice from Collas Crill last July, the same firm from which Gareth Morgan joined Walkers’ Guernsey investment funds practice in October last year. Gary Harris joined the Cayman Islands insurance practice in December from Fergus Re, where he was general counsel, while Nick Vernon joined the Bermuda employment practice from Shoosmiths in February.
William Lee, meanwhile, left Walkers’ Hong Kong office for Harneys in March, according to Asia Business Law Journal, which reported Harneys had appointed Lee as a new corporate partner in Hong Kong.
The full list of partner promotions:
Offshore
Philip Aubry, Cayman Islands, Private Capital & Trusts
Daisy Boulter, Cayman Islands, Insolvency & Dispute Resolution
Nichola Brennan, Jersey, Private Capital & Trusts
Danielle Brouard, Guernsey, Employment
Erin Diachkoff, Cayman Islands, Insurance
Charlotte Goncalves, Guernsey, Investment Funds & Corporate
Charlie Griffiths, Cayman Islands, Regulatory & Risk Advisory
Erin Panton, Cayman Islands, Investment Funds
Callum Wright, Cayman Islands, Regulatory & Risk Advisory
Europe
Alastair King, London, Investment Funds
Asia-Pacific
Robert Gregory, Hong Kong, Insolvency & Dispute Resolution
Jason Hung, Hong Kong, Regulatory & Risk Advisory
Sze Min Lim, Singapore, Investment Funds & Corporate
Jolin Lin, Hong Kong, Insolvency & Dispute Resolution
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