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3 Aussies make partner at Baker McKenzie in global cohort of 89
Global law firm Baker McKenzie has elevated 89 lawyers to its partnership, across 41 worldwide locations, with three Australians (all women) making the grade.
Jerome Doraisamy
Baker McKenzie has unveiled a round of 89 new partners, whose promotions are effective as of 1 July (except for North American-based partners, whose new roles took effect in January).
The 89 “homegrown” partners come from 41 of the firm’s locations worldwide.
Women make up almost half (46 per cent) of those promoted, up from 37 per cent in the last financial year, “demonstrating the firm’s ongoing progress in building a more gender equitable workplace”, Bakers submitted.
The three new Australian partners at the firm are Victoria Bell, Lucienne Gleeson, and Sarah Merrett.
Speaking about the firm’s newest partners, Bakers global chair Milton Cheng (pictured) — who spoke with Lawyers Weekly in October of last year about Bakers being well posed to be the definition of a global law firm — said: “Congratulations to each of our newly promoted partners, and welcome to the new laterals joining the Baker McKenzie family.
“These new appointments recognise the huge and ongoing contributions our new partners have made to our firm and our commitment to building a consistently high-performing, global team of talented lawyers delivering best-in-class legal services.”
“We recognise the often-unprecedented challenges that our clients face — we face them too,” Mr Cheng continued.
“The broad geographical, practice and cultural mix of our new partners ensures we bring diverse perspectives combined with deep local insights and legal expertise to help our clients make informed decisions in uncertain times.
“We will continue building on our unique strengths and grow our capabilities in key strategic areas that will benefit our clients.”
The news follows the firm’s taking of two partners from global rival Norton Rose Fulbright earlier this week.
The news also follows recent promotions rounds in the profession, including: 91 being promoted at MinterEllison on Friday (30 June); Allens promoting 72 yesterday (Thursday, 29 June); the elevation of eight, including four to partner, at PCL Lawyers yesterday; IPH promoting 25, including seven to principal, also on Thursday; Russell Kennedy’s promotion of 18, yesterday morning (Wednesday, 28 June); Slater & Gordon promoting 46; Holman Webb elevating eight and nabbing three new partners from BigLaw rivals; Herbert Smith Freehills’ elevation of 46 to senior associate on Tuesday (27 June); the promotion of 12, including three to partner, at Arnold Bloch Leibler, also on Tuesday; Holding Redlich’s promotion of 41 lawyers to more senior roles, also on 27 June; Hamilton Locke’s elevation of 14 across its firm and one in its allied business, on Tuesday; HopgoodGanim’s promotion of 25, including four to partner on Monday, 26 June; Hicksons’ promotion of 10, also on Monday; McCabes’ elevation of 13 to more senior roles, also on Monday; King & Wood Mallesons’ promotion of 77 lawyers, including 44 to senior associate, on Friday, 23 June; Wotton + Kearney elevated 34, including four to partner, also on Friday; Barry Nilsson promoting 21 on Thursday, 22 June; Hall & Wilcox promoting 48, including five to partner, on Wednesday, 21 June; McCullough Robertson elevated 17 lawyers, including two to partner, on Tuesday, 20 June; 55 being promoted as part of Mills Oakley’s EOFY promotions round on Monday, 19 June; the promotion of 23 at Thomson Geer on the same day; the elevation of 26 to more senior roles at Piper Alderman, also on the 19th; six new partners in Australia at King & Wood Mallesons announced on 16 June; the promotion of seven to partner at Gadens on 15 June; the elevation of 18 at the start of June at Johnson Winter Slattery, followed by its promotion of five to partner in late June; 35 senior promotions at Lander & Rogers in early June; four senior hires for MinterEllison’s consulting arm earlier this month; seven to partner at Moray & Agnew in late May; three new partners at Corrs Chambers Westgarth, also in late May; seven named as special counsel at Clyde & Co in early May; two new partners at DLA Piper as announced in late April; three new partners at Allen & Overy from April; seven to counsel roles at Herbert Smith Freehills in the same week and 10 to partner in Australia a week earlier; and the elevation of 13 to the partnership at Ashurst in mid-April.
Jerome Doraisamy
Jerome Doraisamy is the editor of Lawyers Weekly. A former lawyer, he has worked at Momentum Media as a journalist on Lawyers Weekly since February 2018, and has served as editor since March 2022. He is also the host of all five shows under The Lawyers Weekly Podcast Network, and has overseen the brand's audio medium growth from 4,000 downloads per month to over 60,000 downloads per month, making The Lawyers Weekly Show the most popular industry-specific podcast in Australia. Jerome is also the author of The Wellness Doctrines book series, an admitted solicitor in NSW, and a board director of Minds Count.
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