Partners on the move in the UK: the 2011-12 figures

A new Legal Week report tracks the movement in and out of the partnerships at the UK's top 20 law firms in 2011-12, showing 439 departures and 669 additions. There were 439 departures from the partnerships at the top 20 firms, with 342 leaving their firms altogether through resignation, termination or retirement. The remainder stayed on at the firm in another capacity – either as members of a different LLP or as non-partners or LLP members. Ashurst saw the highest rate of partner departures, with 24 leaving the 217-partner firm – a proportion of around 11%. SJ Berwin and DLA Piper both saw at least 10% of their total partnership leave, and Eversheds wasn’t far behind with 30 departures, representing around 9% of its partnership. The 669 LLP additions were made up of promotions, lateral hires or transfers from other offices. DLA Piper's merger with Australian partner DLA Phillips Fox saw the firm add 183 partners to its LLP, and Simmons & Simmons added 65 – in part due to an overhaul that saw the firm introduce a fixed-share partnership role.

Partners on the move in the UK: the 2011-12 figures legalweek.com Wed, Oct 3, 2012