DWF skips London during latest partner promotions

DWF has made up six lawyers to partner in its latest promotions round, but has overlooked London entirely.

DWF is known for its large national practice having expanded its business through a series of mergers over the last ten years. Despite its regional focus, the firm runs its UK business through its headquarters in London’s Walkie Talkie.

This year’s round sees lawyers made up in the firm’s offices in Birmingham, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Liverpool, Manchester, and Newcastle.

Joanna Hamilton, Lee Pickett, Luke Hopkins and Paul Mason were all promoted to partner within the firm’s real estate practice. Commercial litigation specialist Darren Kenny and head of consumer credit and asset finance sector Julia Williams were also made up.

It is understood that only one of the six new partners trained at the firm.

The six-strong partnership round is marginally larger than last year when DWF grew its partnership by five.

The partnership promotions form part of a wider round, which saw 35 staff members promoted across a number of different levels. During the round DWF also promoted 10 of its fee-earners to director and 14 lawyers to associate.

CEO Andrew Leaitherland said: “All of those promoted this year exemplify our values and are very much the future of DWF, so I’m pleased that we can recognise and reward their commitment to us and look forward to supporting each of them in the next phase of their careers.”

DWF recently revealed that it only retained 62 per cent of trainees that qualified this autumn. The firm had 47 final-seat trainees, with 29 staying on as newly qualified solicitors.

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