Allens Arthur Robinson has today (3 June) appointed 12 new partners across its Australian and Asian offices, many of whom began their careers at the firm.

As the firm's largest round of partner appointments in four years, Allens has taken its total partner headcount to 185, including 30 females.

This takes the firm's total percentage of partners to just over 16 per cent, which is lower than rival firms such as Mallesons Stephen Jaques and Freehills (both around 22 per cent).

Newly appointed partners, who began their career at the firm, include Nicholas Adkins, Mark Malinas, Hop Dang, Jodi Reinmuth, Gavin Smith and Duncan Travis.

Also joining the firm's partnership are Philip Blaxill, Julian Donnan, Karla Fraser, Michael Graves, Penny Nikoloudis and Matthew Whittle.

Beginning her career at Allens in 1996 as a vacation clerk, energy and resources lawyer Reinmuth has been appointed as a partner in the firm's growing Perth office. Joining the firm in Melbourne almost 15 years ago, Reinmuth initially moved to the firm's Perth office under a two-year secondment basis.

"Then two years turned into five ... and now I've been in Perth for 10 years, which has been an extraordinary experience because the office here has grown incredibly in that period," she said.

As a new female partner, Reinmuth credits her rise to partner to the firm's internal mechanisms for recognising the professional development of women and the external and internal mentoring arrangements of the firm.

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"[The internal programs] give a formal structure to mentoring. I've had the benefit of being involved in those programs and I think that's helped me grow into the role [of partner]," she said. "Becoming a partner is sort of the next step and it lets you continue your journey. In my case I wanted to be a specialist and recognised in my field."

Also a newly appointed partner, Asian-based lawyer Dang, who recently obtained his doctorate from Oxford University, began his career as a clerk in Allens' Hanoi office, performing general office duties. With the encouragement of Vietnam practice head Bill Magennis, Dang then embarked on a legal career and undertook his law degrees in both Vietnam and Australia.

"Hop's experience, and that of all our new partners, reflects the importance of having a strong mentor," said chief executive partner Michael Rose. "In the past four years Allens has invested heavily in identifying, training and formally mentoring prospective partners."

This latest round of partner appointments for the firm covers a range of practice areas, including resources, technology, banking and projects.